City of Manila Local Customs

 
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  •   Local Customs
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  • Mall in Manila.
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  • Mall in Manila.
      Mall in Manila.
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  • It started at 9am till 1 pm feeding & giving cloth
      It started at 9am till 1 pm feeding &...
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Philippine Dried Mangoes, World's Best!

by machomikemd

Philippine Dried Mangoes are exported the world over. it has a sweet, slightly tangy taste that is to die for! here in the philippines, it is sold in 100 to 200 gram packs and costs 65 pesos (1.25 USD) and 90 pesos (1.99 USD). Thai dried mangoes are cheaper at 90 baht (128 pesos or 3.20 USD) per 500 grams but does not have that distinctive sweet and tangy taste of dried philippine mangoes. Mangoes grow year round in selected areas in the philippines. Dried Mangos are sold in the states at 30 ounces pack (850 grams) at $16.50 (740 pesos)

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Pili Nut Candy, Comparable to Macadamia Nut

by machomikemd

The Pili nut (Canarium ovatum), is one of 600 species in the family Burseraceae, is native to the Philippines and is abundant and wild in southern Luzon (bicol region), and in parts of Visayas and Mindanao. The most important product from pili is the kernel. When raw, it resembles the flavor of roasted pumpkin seed, and when roasted, its mild, nutty flavor and tender-crispy texture is superior to that of the almond. Pili kernel is also used in chocolate, ice cream, and baked goods. The largest buyers of pili nuts are in Hong Kong and Taiwan, the kernel is one of the major ingredients in one type of the famous Chinese festive desserts known as the "moon cake".It is a famous "pasalubong"(souvenir) and is available locally as plain dried nut, as Ice Crea, as caramelized candy, as a nougat and my favorite, as a candy.

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Purple Yam "Ube" A Sweet Dessert!

by machomikemd

A variety of a true yam, which is known as “ube” or “ubi” in the Philippines. Ube (or ubi) is the Filipino word for purple yam (Dioscorea alata). It contains pigments that gives its violet colorIt has rough textured, dark colored skin and a light purple colored flesh. Purple yam is very gnarled looking in appearance and grows on a vine rather than underground. Purple yam is used to make ube powder, which is a starchy substance added as an ingredient to sweet baked goods, cakes, ice cream, jams, and curries. All varieties of the purple yam are used to make both sweet and savory dishes as well as ground starchy substances used as flavorings and ingredients for other foods.ube is cooked with sugar and eaten as a sweetened dessert or jam called ube halaya which is a bright violet color. Ube is also an ingredient in the fruity dessert halo halo, another popular Filipino dessert.

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Puto Bumbong! Heavenly

by machomikemd

Puto bumbong is a purple colored glutinous rice cake steamed upright in a bamboo shaft topped with fresh grated coconut and brown sugar or even rice rolls made in specialized bamboo sections made out of pirurutong or purple sticky rice with the addition of ube (purple yam) as a coloring and flavor enhancer. It is then wrapped in banana leaves then is served after a few minutes. This steamed delicacy is served with butter or margarine, sugar (preferable the muscovado kind) and grated coconut. It is usually a christmas meal in the philippines usually served to farmers in the spanish times for Dawn Masses. It is usually paired with Bibingka (wheat flour with butter, sugar and grated coconut plus salabat (ginger tea)) but since it's popularity has sky rocketed, it is available all year round! Via Mare Restaurants make the best Puto Bumbong!

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Bibingka! A Must Eat!

by machomikemd

bibingka is a Popular Filipino Cake, it was originally eaten only during the christmas season wherever the Dawn Masses (Misa De Gallo) would start but it spread in it's popularity that it is available today all year round. It is available into 3 types, the Bibingka made with Flour, The Bibingka Galapong, Made with Rice Flour and the Cassava Bibingka, made with rootcrop Cassava. It is also popular in Goa in India, East Timor and Macau where it is known as Bebinca. In the portugese version it is made with flour plus Ghee (a kind of indian butter). In the Filipino method of preparation, rice flour or wheat flour is used and sliced salted duck eggs plus quesong puti, a semi-soft white cheese made from carabao's milk (similar to bufala mozzarella) are added into the batter before baking (the baking process is similar to that of the bebinca). Before being served, butter or margarine is spread...

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Bibingka! A Must Eat!

by machomikemd

bibingka is a Popular Filipino Cake, it was originally eaten only during the christmas season wherever the Dawn Masses (Misa De Gallo) would start but it spread in it's popularity that it is available today all year round. It is available into 3 types, the Bibingka made with Flour, The Bibingka Galapong, Made with Rice Flour and the Cassava Bibingka, made with rootcrop Cassava. It is also popular in Goa in India, East Timor and Macau where it is known as Bebinca. In the portugese version it is made with flour plus Ghee (a kind of indian butter). In the Filipino method of preparation, rice flour or wheat flour is used and sliced salted duck eggs plus quesong puti, a semi-soft white cheese made from carabao's milk (similar to bufala mozzarella) are added into the batter before baking (the baking process is similar to that of the bebinca). Before being served, butter or margarine is spread...

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Nata De Coco! Now Popular Around Asia!

by machomikemd

Nata de coco is a chewy, translucent, traditional Philippine dessert which is "coconut gel-product from coconut water by bacterial fermentation-prepared cellulosic white to creamy yellow substance formed by acetobacter aceti subspecies Xylinium, on the surface of sugar enriched coconut water / coconut milk / plant extract / fruit juices or other waste materials rich in sugar it is also described as a chewy, translucent, jelly-like food product produced by the bacterial fermentation of coconut water. Nata de coco is most commonly sweetened as a candy or dessert, and can accompany many things including pickles, drinks, ice cream, and fruit mixes. The product originated from the Philippines and was invented by a college student at the University of Santo Tomas named Teodula Afrika in the 1970's and has caught asia by storm! Proudly Filipino, the technology for the production of nata de coco...

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calamares (deep-fried breaded squid)

by machomikemd

calamares (deep-fried breaded squid), was an invention of Spain which was adapted by filipinos since we were once a colony of spain. This is popular but expensive snack here wherein squid rings are de skinned and deep fried into vegetable oil then vacuum packed. it cost about 120 pesos a 100 gram pack. great with local vinegar or honey mustard sauce as dip.

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Kakanin-Native Rice Cakes

by machomikemd

Assorted Kakanin or native cakes.In the Philippines, glutinous rice is known as malagkit (literally "sticky" in Tagalog), glutinous rice flour is known as galapong. The rice grains are treated with a solution of lye and then dried, then the grains are poured into a banana leaf cone or cocount leaf wrapper and steamed. It may be mixed with sugar, coconut milk, or other grains such as millet. Glutinous rice cooked in coconut leaf or banana leaves wrappers are steamed to produce "suman," of which there are many varieties depending on the region. Some of the common toppings are "bukayo", grated mature coconut cooked in sugar, coconut jam, and freshly grated coconut. Some regions eat suman as a snack with ripe mangoes or bananas.A general term for sweet rice cake, "bibingka" mainly consists of glutinous rice cooked with coconut milk. Another traditional Filipino snack very similar to Japanese...

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"Pinipig" by Mikasan

by machomikemd

Pinipig (Roasted rice puffs) is a filipino rice dessert made from immature glutinous rice that is harvested and pounded into what look like colorful (depends on the food color or additive) flakes . The flakes are moist and redolent with a fragrance that is simply unique. They are almost the quintessence of rice. These flakes can be eaten raw but it can be also eaten boiled or roasted. Pinipig rice is used for rice-based convenience food products in which no rice ingredients are packed separately and mixed only during heating. It indicates that a significant amount of protein, vitamins and minerals. This version of Pinipig which I like is coated with either chocolate or vanilla. This version is made by Mikasan in Baguio City.

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Dear VT members, I understand there are buses travelling between Ayala and Quiapo.I like to know where does... 

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A: The bus name is PVP Liner, a blue and white bus. Can't pinpoint the exact "start" but I normally see it pass infront of Makati Stock Exchange. It passes along the "side"... 

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