We Filipinos love to bring something home when we go out of town. Be it for our loved ones or colleagues, we usually take time to find a local delicacy or a handicraft to give away. I, personally, love to bring home local delicacies. During our last trip in Tacloban, we roamed around downtown to see what we can share way back home.
Binagol
Made of crushed talyan root (a local rootcrop similar to taro) mixed with coconut and condensed milk, Binagol is one of Leyte’s iconic delicacies. It is placed on half a coconut shell and wrapped with banana leaves. You can get this from downtown Tacloban at Php 35, or three pieces for Php 100.
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| Binagol |
Roscas
Almost similar to fortune cookie, this delicacy traces its roots to Barugo, Leyte. It had its beginnings in the late 1960s when a local from Barugo brought roscas-making technology from her travel abroad. Made of flour, sugar, eggs and shortening, this pastry will surely delight your loved ones back at home.
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| Roscas |
Moron
It’s not a bad word, trust me (pronounce it with accent on the second syllable though). Moronis Leyte’s version of suman (sticky rice cake wrapped in banana leaves). It is smoother and has brown stripes because it is mixed with chocolate, sugar and coconut milk. There are also variants with cheese or peanuts. Of all of Leyte’s native delicacies, this one is my favourite. You can also buy this from downtown. Price usually starts at Php 7 per piece.
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| Moron |
Bukhayo
Another coconut dessert, bukhayo (yes, with “h”) is grated coconut bathed in sugar and enclosed in whole coconut shell. If you’re up for something really, really sweet, then this one is for you.
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| Bukayo |
Dried Danggit
Ok, you might have thought that danggit is only from the Queen City of the South. But the truth is, you can buy danggit in most parts of the Philippines. In Palawan, there are a variety of danggit to choose from: dried, marinated (more commonly known as “lamayo”), salted, unsalted. In Aklan, there are also a lot of varieties. I guess anywhere in Visayas, you could find good quality danggit, and Leyte is not an exemption.
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| Danggit |
Woven Handicrafts
Leyte and Samar are also famous for making woven handicrafts made of tikog leaves. In downtown Leyte, we found only one store selling these handicrafts. The store is located near a corner facing the port where the jeepneys bound to Baras is. There are cute coin purses, bags, sleeping mats, and a lot more on offer.
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| Woven coin purses |
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| Woven basket |
Travelogues by Matet Garcia-Reyes 