The Balut of Pateros The Golden Heritage Still Dwelling In the Midst of Modernity

A Term Paper Presented to Mr. John Dominic Dalisay; Instructor of General Anthropology Of Polytechnic University of the Philippines

By

Oliver F. Evangelista Jackhey dela Rosa Charmie Grace Petuco Christine Belle Torres Katherine Caling Karla Joyce Bascon Jan Rhobert Meneses Ronald Simeon Paul John Abeleda Darwin Salonga Bon Jerald Encepto Alden Jay Gutierrez Matthew delos Reyes Alexis Hernane

October 2011

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

Introduction Theoretical Framework Conceptual Framework Formulation of the Problem Scope and Limitation Relevance of the Study Definition of Terms

CHAPTER II

Review of Related Literature

CHAPTER III

Technique Used in the Study Method Used in the Study Procedure in Data Gathering (Summary Data Collection Scheme)

CHAPTER IV Conclusion

CHAPTER V Appendix

INTRODUCTION

The so called cultural heritage of a certain community is something that brands them not only to their own population but also to others, local dwellers or not. And such heritage is being passed to the posteriors of the community and also those who are branded by such heritage; the reason why as time passes by the tradition, customs and practices is also done and promoted by those people who are not natives but also captured by the particular culture he/she was immersed.

The Filipinos are being exotic in different ways. Exotic defined by Concise English Dictionary as 1 originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country. The Filipinos are exotic in terms of talents, fashion and the most significant is the Philippines exotic delicacy. These foods are part of the Filipino s everyday meal but could be strange to foreigners. But there are instances that the exoticness of the food disappears due to its presence on every corner of the community.

In line with this, this paper aims to provide substantial information about Pateros golden heritage, the Balut Industry together with Victoria, Laguna s Duck Raising Industry in order to disseminate information about their industry and help them keep their heritage golden to posterity.

What is exotic? Concise English Dictionary

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

According to Raymond Williams, he suggested that 2culture can be used to refer to the works and practices of intellectual and especially artistic activity.

In The analysis of culture , Williams outlines the 3 three general categories in the definition of culture , and the third category mentioned was that 4 There is the social definition of culture, in which culture is a description of a particular way of life definition introduces three new ways of thinking about culture. First, the anthropological position which sees culture as a description of a particular way of life; second, the proposition that culture expresses certain meanings and values ; third, the claim that the work of cultural analysis should be the clarification of the meanings and values implicit and explicit in a particular way of life, a particular culture . This

This theory is embodied in this study so that the researchers would be able to make a deep understanding of the balut of Pateros and why does this culture very significant to the local dwellers.

Storey, J. (2009). Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction, 5thed., Harlow, England: Pearson Longman, pp. 1-2 3 Ibid, p. 44 4 Ibid, p. 45

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The focus of the research is to know the details pertaining to the decline of the balut industry of Pateros. The research will focus on three elements (a) History of balut, (b) How it is prepared, and (c) the itik industry of Victoria, Laguna being the backbone of the balut industry of Pateros nowadays. The technique that will be used in gathering the data will be Multiple Key Informants interviewing. The informants will be the people who are involved in the balut and itik industry, the local dwellers residing and the local government unit. The people working with balut and itik farmers will be asked to share a brief history regarding the industry, how it change as time pass by, if there are any myths or stories associated with the industry, if there are any other practices related to the balut, the industries significance to the local dwellers and the reasons for the declining industry. Next, the informants will be asked on how the balut is prepared and if there are any variations in the balut making; also if there is any similarity other egg products locally or abroad and lastly, the cooking styles or recipes of balut. The last set will be for the itik industry of the Duck Raising Capital of the Philippines, Victoria, Laguna. The informants will be asked of a brief history of the industry, their farming methods , testimonials from local dwellers and the most important, the relation between the balut industry of Pateros and the itik industry of

Victoria. The researchers will ask the informants if they are the past itik farmers of Pateros and inquire on the evolution of the balut industry. The researcher will also use other methods in gathering data such as Participant Observation and photo/video documentation. The purpose of this is to provide the researcher a great insight for them to be immersed in the live experience. For the sake of accuracy the researcher created a Summary Data Collection Scheme (Arce, 2001). This would help the researcher determine expected and unexpected data that might emerge during the study. It will allow us to see the exact data needed and how these data will be collected. However, it should also be noted that the entries in the table may vary based on the site process. specific factors that may influence the data gathering

FORMULATION OF THE PROBLEM

General Problem

This research will make an insight about the industry of balut of Pateros and duck farming of Victoria, Laguna.

Specific Problem

Particularly, this study aims to answer the following queries:

1. When does the balut industry started and who brought it here? 2. What is the process for balut and salted egg making? 3. What happened to the industry of Pateros after some time? 4. How was Victoria related to Pateros? 5. How does the Victoria industry go?

SCOPE AND LIMITATION

In this study, the researchers will gather information about the balut industry of Pateros and duck industry of Victoria and also the status of the industry as the society where they belong evolves.

To conduct the study, this will be composed of two important phases. First, the researchers will interview the key informants who are the owners of the balutan and duck raisers and also the local dwellers of the community regarding the trade.

Second, the researchers will gather related literatures regarding the topic to trace the significant changes on the industry by having literatures published on different time.

RELEVANCE OF THE STUDY

Eat balut to strengthen your knees , most of the elder say to us whenever they see us walking like limp. And when you ask them when to get those, they will just direct you to a single place, Pateros. The balut was popularized in Pateros, wherein this municipality duck farms where kept and so the balut factories are. Balut has been part of their heritage for a quite period of time. It has been an identity for this particular town in Metro Manila, therefore making it significant to the people of Pateros. The preservation of a particular product, original or being brought by the other traders is such a significant way of preserving a culture. A particular procedure in making such product, new techniques of making it and innovations for its dishes marks the changes of a places history, different influences of such people with different social features.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms were used in study. y y y y y y y y y y y y y y y

5

Balut 5an incubated egg of a mallard duck with developed embryo of 17 to 19 days. Balutan room where the eggs waiting to become balut are kept. Pitik 6eggs were tapped with fingers to cull out eggs with cracks or thin shells. Itik 7The native Pateros duck, or Philippine mallard used for egg purposes. Pekin Duck 8a breed of duck developed in China used for meat purposes. Toong 9cylindrical baskets. Silaw (Candling)- 10the process of holding egg against the hole of a lighted box in a dark room to separate infertile eggs to fertile one. Abnoy 11eggs with dead embryos. Penoy 12table grade boiled egg. Itlog na Maalat Salted egg. Balut sa Puti 13 stage where the duck fetus is still wrapped in its white embryonic membrane. Ipa 14rice husk Mamatong 15developed duck egg to become balut. Tikbo 16mosquito nets cut into squares of one by one meter. Higupin 17soupy penoy or custard like penoy.

http://www.thephilippineisland.com/philippine-recipes/balut-fertilized-duck-egg-considers-a-muchloved-filipino-delicacy.html 6 www.da.gov.ph/dawebsite/duck.pdf 7 Ibid 8 Ibid 9 Ibid 10 Ibid 11 Ibid 12 http://www.mixph.com/2008/05/tips-on-self-mixed-feeds-key-for-profitable-duck-egg-production.html

13

14
15 16

http://www.tagalog-dictionary.com/pateros/balut.htm http://www.oovrag.com/essays/essay2004a-5.shtml date accessed: October 08, 2011 Ibid Ibid

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Balut Balut and penoy are traditionally considered aphrodisiacs. While it is true that they have high nutrient values there is no hard evidence to prove this. Aphrodisiacs or not, balut and penoy are enjoyed by millions of Filipinos. For the non-Filipino, an adventurous spirit, a desire to explore the unknown and the ability to be open-minded are essential to the enjoyment of balut. A combination of saltiness and tartness, softness and crunchiness, a sensation of sweetness, the degree of resistance to the bite, the viscosity and stickiness are the rewards. Today, the humble balut has been slicked over, enveloped in puff pastry, oven-baked, perfumed with various spices and undergone so many transformations that it is a minor miracle that the poor thing still manages to remember that it really is nothing more than a duck's egg. (http://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-philippines-balut) Itik The native or Pateros duck, commonly called itik, is the most popularly raised locally. Although smaller than imported breeds, they are good layers and non-sitters. Their eggs are large. Its predominant colours are black and gray. Some are barred (bulek), others are brwon or have white feathers mixed with black/green. Males have coarser heads and heavier bodies than females. Males emit shrill high pitched sounds. They have curly feathers on top of their tails. Females emit low-pitched quacking sounds. Their tail feathers lie flat or close to the bodies. In commercial duck hatcheries, determining the sex of duckling is done at the age of 2 to 3 days. (www.da.gov.ph/dawebsite/duck.pdf)

Pateros

17

http://casaveneracion.com/balut-penoy/

Southeast of Manila is Pateros, the smallest of the seventeen cities and municipalities comprising the Metropolitan Manila. Pateros before 1700 was only a barrio of Pasig called "Aguho" or "embarcadero". Aguho was derived from the name of numerous shady trees planted along the Pateros River, while "embarcadero" means a small port. As a port, Pateros was the focal point of trade and commerce not only for the entire Municipality of Pasig but also for the neighboring towns. It also served as harbor for the Malay, Chinese, Swedish and Indian vessels that periodically called to disembark merchandise and to engage in commerce. These were the reasons why Pateros as the most progressive barrio of Pasig was given the name Aguho or embarcadero. The Chinese traders who eventually settled in the town introduced the most famous balut industry and alfombra-slipper making. The name PATEROS came from the Tagalog words "pato" the duck that lays the eggs for balut making, and "sapatero" the word for shoemakers. (http://www.pateros.gov.ph/about_pateros/history.asp Date Accessed: October 8, 2011) Until the late Seventies, duck raising and duck egg production had been a thriving industry in Pateros, a town by the Pasig River, south of Metro Manila. The small municipality has become famous for its dark red-stained salted egg and balut, a duck egg embryonated for 16 to 18 days which is eaten boiled. These two poultry products are exotic delicacies popular among Filipinos whether rich or poor. But urbanization and rapid industrial growth starting in the 1980s have slowly displaced the once-thriving duck production industry of Pateros. At present, only a few of the town s original families still engage in the business, many of whom had been dislodged by homes and factories sprouting along Pasig River which spill out chemical wastes and other pollutants, causing serious threat to the local folk s means of livelihood. (http://www.mixph.com/2008/05/tips-on-self-mixed-feeds-key-for-profitable-duck-eggproduction.html) "Today, the Pateros economy rapidly improved as seen in the number of commercial establishments and banks in our town. Many residents of Pateros became businessmen, lawyers, professionals, etc. because of balut-making. We must promote our local products and industries to empower our people to improve their lives," (http://www.oovrag.com/essays/essay2004a-5.shtml)

Victoria, Laguna

Unknown to many, Pateros sources most of its eggs that eventually become balut from an enterprising poultry farm in this lakeside town, which built a monument in honor of the egg-hatching itik or Philippine mallard. The town of Victoria, which borders Laguna Lake, is known for the Itik (Anas plathrhynchos Linn) Festival, held every second week of November. Nowhere else is the P5.5-billion duck industry more vibrant than in this municipality of 30,000.

In 2003, the Philippines produced 54 million kilos of duck eggs and the same volume of duck meat. Total duck egg production amounted to P2.5 billion while the combined duck meat output grossed P2.93 billion. ( http://www.enjoyphilippines.com/News/victorialaguna-the-duck-capital.html)

Dator Duck s Farm One such town is Victoria, where 43-year old Leo Dator and his family operate a duck farm since 1984. Although some of their town mates and some others elsewhere had gone into similar business with modest success, the Dator Duck Farm is arguably the country s best managed, as it continues to post sustained growth despite rising feed prices and other problems that affect profitability. In fact the Dator duck farm in Barangay Nanhaya produces anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 eggs a day, quite a record in this part of the country. (http://www.mixph.com/2008/05/tips-on-self-mixed-feeds-key-for-profitable-duck-eggproduction.html)

TECHNIQUE USED IN THE STUDY

The technique used in the study is the qualitative technique which involves the examination of data from observations, interviews and publications which are not statistical in nature. The tools used include historical records, biographies, autobiographies, diaries, speeches, editorials and videotapes. (San Juan, W. (2007). Sociology, Culture and Family Planning: a Conceptual, Experiential and Interactive Approach., Pasig City: Unlad Publishing House, pp. 33)

METHOD USED IN THESTUDY

The method used in conducting this study is the unstructured or nondirective interviewing which is a procedure in which neither the questions nor the answers are predetermined, instead, the researcher let the interviewee or respondent guide the flow of

the interview. Here the researchers do not seek answers to specific questions but to explore a broad or subtle aspect of social life. (San Juan, W. (2007). Sociology, Culture and Family Planning: a Conceptual, Experiential and Interactive Approach., Pasig City: Unlad Publishing House, pp. 34)

SUMMARY DATA COLLECTION SCHEME

Research Topic y Data Set Record the historical accounts pertaining to or relating to the balut. Myths and stories associated with the balut. Record of other practices related to the balut. Reasons of the declining balut industry in Pateros based on social context. Significance of the balut to the residents of Pateros. Preparation and variations in balut making. Similarities with other egg products (local, national, global) Cooking styles Farming methods Testimonials y y y y Data Source Key Informant/s Local dwellers of Pateros y Local Institutions (Barangays, City Government, Local Parish etc.) Archive Documents (if any) y Interview guide for local institutions Interview guide for local dwellers Data Collection/Technique y Interview guide for Key Informant/s

History of Balut

y y y

Key Informant/s Local dwellers of Pateros

Interview guide for Key Informant/s Interview guide for local institutions Interview guide for local dwellers Observation guide Interview guide for Key Informant/s

y Local Institutions (Barangays, City Government, Local Parish etc.) Archive Documents (if any) Key Informant/s Local dwellers of Victoria

Preparations

y y y

y y y

y y

Itik Industry

y y

Brief history Relation to the Balut industry of Pateros

Archive documents

Interview guide for local institutions Interview guide for local dwellers Documentation techniques (video/photo/voice recording etc.)

CONCLUSION

After the data gathering the researchers found out that the balut industry started since early 1700 s when the mallard ducks were brought by the Chinese traders who regularly dock in their port. The term Pateros was from the words pato means duck and sapatero means shoemakers since the Chinese together with the ducks brought the industry of making alfombra in their town. The researchers also found out that the process of making balut is as follows: Procedure #2 (For small scale business) 1. Prepare a large wooden box, lined it with a heated rice hull below about 6-8 inches thick. 2. Arrange the eggs into a bag of about 20-50 pieces each, put them in the heated hull and cover again with the same thickness of heated hull. 3. Cover the box very carefully so as to prevent rapid heat loss. 4. Inspect the eggs every morning to see if the rice hull needs reheating. The hull should be about 38 C. 5. The third day, check out the egg against a bright light to see if the bacteria will develop plasma. It becomes part of chick eggs if eggs are fertile. If no germ plasm develops remove the eggs. These are sold as a duck egg. Put back into the heated hull the germ plasm in

the egg. 6. The 13th day review egg against the light. Remove the eggs with no germs pasm. At this stage, the developing germ plasm is the "Balut in white." 7. On the 17th day of the chicks are growing some feathers. These can now be done. For Commercial Scale: The process is the same except that an incubator is used instead of heated rice hull. The researchers also found out that urbanization and rapid industrial growth starting in the 1980s have slowly displaced the once-thriving duck production industry of Pateros. The establishment of factories and land conversion to residential area polluted the Pasig River facing off their itik industry. Also when the itik industry in Pateros was wiped off, the Victoria, Laguna pioneered in the industry of duck raising, that s why they were named as the Duck Raising Capital of the Philippines and they are the ones who supply the duck eggs to Pateros. In connection to the theory of Raymond Williams,

APPENDICES

Journey to Victoria Aboard DLTB coach worth 96 pesos, I travelled from Manila to Victoria passing several municipalities such as Calamba, Los Baos, Bay and my destination, Victoria, Laguna. After almost two hours , I get off in front of the small Petron gas station there. I was so amazed to see the monument of giant itik as I enter the municipality. I asked the local dwellers where exactly am I and they told me nasa Victoria Poblacion ka totoy. I found out that I get off the wrong barangay, I should actually be in Brgy. Balite, not Masapang. So I took a jeepney and paid eight pesos to the driver. I was so fascinated with the environment that was still like dreaming when a woman told me Iho, huwag ka nang tumulala dyan, Balite na to. I immediately scampered off my seat and disembarked the jeepney. Pasaan ka ba Iho, saan ka pa ba galing? the woman asked. Ah, galing pa ho ako sa Maynila, taga PUP po ako, sociology major, meron lang po

akong kailangang kausapin na mga farm owners para sa thesis namin. I exclaimed. Sino ba gusto mong puntahan, halos bawat angkan dito sa Victoria may itikan. she asked. Ah, kay Leo Dator po. My reply. Ah, si Dator yung may farm ng Pekin Duck, ay siya sige, sumabay ka sa akin patungong bayan, dumine ka iho, ipapahatid kita, huwag ka basta bababa hanggat wala ka pa sa farm ah, oy manong drayber ihatid mo to kay Dator ah. She commanded. The tricycle started to run, we passed on big, so big rice paddies, and I was really fascinated to see that the plant boxes along the way has a sculpture of a duck with lots of eggs. Dator Duck Farm The tricycle delivered all the passengers also the woman who took me in. When everybody was gone the driver took me to Dator Duck Farm. I get off the trike and paid 17 pesos, thanked and bid goodbye to the driver. In front of me was like seven big cages full of pekin ducks which are so white with orange bill and feet. Every cage houses different sizes of ducks, there are for adult ones, pullets (dumalaga in Tagalog) and ducklings. I saw workers working on sand delivered by horse drawn carts, I asked them Manong ano ginagawa niyo sa buhangin? Nangunguha kami ng tulya, sinasala naming ung mga buhangin galing sa lawa, pero kung titingnan mo maigi, hindi buhangin yan, puro shell lahat yan. He said. And yet it was true, those are very tiny shells but when you will not look closely, it looks like sand. There are also snakes coming from the lake, but those are just thrown away and step on it. Then I asked for Mr. Leo Dator, the owner and manager, but he is unavailable, so the assistant manager, Kuya Rommel, enlightened me up. So the interview goes like this: Interviewer: Kuya Rommel, may mga series of questions lang ako na itatanong for the sake of knowledge. Respondent: (laughing) sake of knowledge talaga ah. Sige banatan mo. I: How was Victoria, Laguna related to Pateros?

R: Very related, kasi kami(Victoria, Laguna) ang nagbabagsak ng mga itlog na ginagawang balut sa pateros at tsaka itlog na maalat. I: Does the duck farms from Pateros went to Victoria?

R: Ah, hindi, lahat ng farms dito original. I: When was the duck raising in Victoria started?

R: Mga 1980s simula nung bumagsak yung duck industry ng Pateros, pero itong Dator Ducks Farm nagsimula sya noong 1984, namana ko kasi ito ni manager (Leo Dator) sa tatay niya. I: What are the products of the farm?

R: May tindahan kami sa may Pila road, ang pangalan eh yung Ang Tindahan ng Itlog ni Kuya, nagbebenta kami ng Litson Kinulob na Itik (Native), Kinulob na Pekin Duck (US Breed Grown in Victoria, Laguna), Karne ng Pekin Duck, Balot at Penoy, Sariwang Itlog ng Itik, Itlog na Maalat, Adobong Itik, Adobong Laman loob, Kalderetang Itik, Hamonadong Itik, at Leche Flan. Meron din kaming Pekin breeders at ducklings. I: Does the farm deliver fertilized egg to Pateros for balut making or does the farm produce its own balut?

R: Oo, kami ang nagsusuply ng itlog sa Pateros at iba pang parte ng metro manila. Syempre, meron din naman kaming balut, yan ang hindi mawawala samin. I: Was the balut popular in Victoria or just the ducks?

R: Ay, ang mga itik talaga ang hinahanap dito, kinulob na itik to be exact. Yung balut, sa Pateros yun. I: What types of ducks were kept in the farm?

R: Dati kasi itikan kami, kaso 3 years ago, nag pekin duck na kami kasi pagtapos nung tatlong sunod sunod na mga bagyo, kasama yung Ondoy, nawala yung mga tulya sa lawa, eh yun ang pagkain ng mga itik eh, importante yun kasi siya ang nagpapatigas ng itlog nila tsaka pamparich yun ng pula ng itlog. Meron din kaming mule ducks, kaso infertile yung mga yun, crossbreed sya ng Muscovy at Mallard, mabilis siyang lumaki at bumigat. I: How many months old was the duck before it lay eggs?

R: Mga around six to seven months, broody na ang mga pekin duck tsaka itik. I: Do you still sort the duck eggs into different sizes just like the chicken eggs?

R: Oo, para magkaron ng variation sa presyo. I: Since the female ducks are the important ones, what do you do to the male ducklings?

R: Sa itikan, nirereject naming, ung mga lalaki, piso isa ang bentahan. Kasi ang standard ay sa bawat 100 na duck, pito ang lalaki, kasi kapag marami ang lalaki, magsasakitan sila, unlike kapag pito lang sila, magkakalayo sila ng pwesto sa paddling most of the time. I: What are the methods does the farm use for sexing?

R: Gumagamit kami ng vent sexing method kung saan binabanat naming ung wetpu ng duck para lumabas yung sex organ, kapag ang lumabas eh parang triangle na medyo malapad, babae yun, pero kung triangle na medyo matalas tapos may kasamang mahabang parang intestine, lalaki yun. I: What is the fate of the ducks who are old and dont lay eggs anymore?

R: Cull ang tawag dun, yun yung mga ginagawang kinulob na pekin o kinulob na itik, niluuto sila sa loob ng mga dalawang oras at nakakulob para iabsorb nila ang lahat ng lasa ng rekado. I: Do you believe that the balut industry was gradually declining?

R: Actually, hindi lang gradually, nagdecline na talaga, pero may mga konting tao doon na tuloy pa rin s paggawa, sila rin actually yung mga may farm dati doon. I: What type of food do you use for feeding? R: Nakilala kami kasi organic kami magpakain, ang mix namen ay kamote, suso o tulya, plus feeds. Mas matipid kasi ang kamote, hindi pa medicated. I: Was the duck industry in Victoria still in boost and not declining?

R: Humina nga eh, pagkatapos kasi nung mga bagyo na sabi ko sayo kanina, marami ding mga farm ang nagsara. I: Are there lots of people patronizing duck meat and egg consumption?

R: Marami, may mga walk in customers, meron namang mga suki na namin not only here in Luzon pero pati sa buong bansa. I: How do you make salted eggs?

R: Nilalagay yung mga itlog sa putik na may asin o kaya sa asin, at binuburo doon ng mga 13 to 14 days tapos ilalaga at kukulayan ng dye. I: Why was Victoria being made as the Duck Capital of the Philippines?

R: Kasi halos lahat ng angkan at pamilya dito may itikan at tsaka malapit kami sa lawa kaya strategic ang location.

I: Is there a festival for ducks?

R: Itik festival tuwing November.

I: How do you manage the probability of pests and diseases in the farm?

R: Wala naman masyadong sakit kasi ang ducks ay resistant sa sakit di gaya ng iba tulad ng manok. Predator lang ang problema, ditto tulad ng ahas. Leo Dators Story When he inherited the business from his father in 1984, Leo had little hands-on knowledge of duck raising because he worked full-time as an agrochemical salesman at the Shell office in Makati City only a few years back. We started with a flock of 1,000 ducks 20 years ago, recalls the agribusiness graduate from UP Los Banos. Together with wife Josephine, Leo currently manages a flock of 100,000 ducks that lay nearly the same number of eggs daily. Assisting them are 40 committed workers who devote their entire mornings feeding the ducks, and later collecting their eggs. In return, they and their families are provided on-farm housing facilities and daily sustenance. One of the more patent differences in the way Dator raises his flock is the kind of material he feeds on the animals. Unlike most duck raisers who rely on commercial feeds and therefore are adverse to price hikes of corn, soybeans, and other ingredients, Leo regularly feeds the birds with natural and farmprepared food consisting of raw and dried cassava, camote (sweet potato), gabi and sakwa all supplied by local producers and farm cooperatives. To make this possible, he has established a supply arrangement with upland farmers as far as Nueva Ecija, Batangas and Quezon, particularly within the Bondoc Peninsula, where most upland dwellers have very little market access for their produce. Complementing the root crops are rice bran, over-ripe fruits, green legumes, earthworms, maggots and even insects. Each day, Leo also gathers up to six tons of young and juvenile mollusks like shells and pond snails from the vast Laguna de Bay and feed them to the flock four times a day. To do this, he maintains a fleet of motorized banca piloted by hired skilled fishermen whose only job is to ply the lake in search of mollusks.

Journey Home I thanked kuya Rommel for all his answers but Im a duck and goose lover and have been training them for nearly a year and I will not leave the farm without acquiring their US breed pekin ducks, surprisingly he gave to me a pair of 2 week old ducklings for 200 pesos instead of 500 pesos, oh what a joy. Then, kuya Rj Larrano, 43, a trike driver who happens to have an itik

farm years ago, confirmed all the information I got, then brought me to other itikan, balutan and hatcheries for a look then gave me a tour to the bayan and back to Balite for only 60 pesos, it covered nearly 6 to 7 kilometers and that was worth it. I didnt miss the opportunity of tasting the kinulob na itik for 150 pesos, and some buko pies along my way to Manila, what a very exciting trip. Wohoo.

PICTURES