Palengke Finds

One of Lokalpedia's greatest pleasures is going around public markets in different regions.

A public market, or what we call "palengke", is an important cultural marker. It offers a taste of a municipality and reflects its history and culture. Moreover, it is the hub of local produce and artisanal goods. But the most wonderful thing about a public market is its ability to bring people from different ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds together. All in all, a public market is the heart and soul of a community. Kaya don't skip palengkes on your next travel.

In this post, Lokalpedia shares some of its finds in different public markets in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. More public markets will be featured soon!

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Bakasi

They look like snakes, but they are actually small eels. Bakasi can be fried or grilled. But Nilarang is the most famous way of preparing bakasi.

Bitso-bitso

Silay Public Market has an abundance of local delicacies especially every morning of Sunday.

Bakas

Aside from palapa, sakurab, and pariya, the stalls in the Muslim town of Quiapo, Manila offer Bakas or smoked yellowfin tuna. It is used in traditional Maranao dishes such as Piaparan.

Special Puto

Bibingkoy

Bibingkoy is said to be a combination of bibingka and tikoy. It is chewy and sweet. Bibingkoy is a blockbuster in Cavite City Public Market so I suggest going there early in the morning. Just look for Aling Ika's Carinderia.

La Paz Batchoy

La Paz Batchoy is a culinary icon of Iloilo. You can find it in almost all major public markets in the city, especially in La Paz Public Market - the birthplace of the famed noodle dish. However, batchoys in other places such as in Central Market deserve a visit.

Tabon-tabon

If you want to make the Northern Mindanao version of kinilaw, you need to get two native ingredients: suwa/suha/biasong and tabon-tabon. But if you don't have time to prepare, you can just eat at eateries inside Cogon Public Market.

Buro

Patupat

Tilapiang Buhi

Tilapiang Buhi is said to be one of the best tilapia. You can get it in Buhi Public Market, located just beside Lake Buhi.

Curacha

Curacha is harvested in the seas of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Zamboanga.

Tapang Taal

Tapang Taal, named after the heritage town of Batangas, is a meat (usually pork) marinated in soy sauce, pepper, calamansi, and tons of garlic. Taal Public Market has also other products such as longanisang Taal, tableas, and kapeng barako.

Pasotes

In Vigan Public Market, amongst bagnet and vigan longganisas, there's a herb called pasotes. Pasotes is an herb ingredient that is not present in many public markets in the archipelago. It was brought from Mexico via Manila-Acapulco galleon trade during colonial era, and since then it became part of Ilocano cuisine. Pasotes is used in Pipian, a chicken stew that can be found in Ilocos especially in heritage city of Vigan. Pasotes is also present in public markets in Cebu.

Lucban Longganisa