Bibingka from Mohon By: Michael M. Lipana

Bibingka is very familiar food to all Filipinos. It is a native rice cake in Philippines and traditionally present during Christmas holiday season. Filipinos usually sell bibingka and other delicacies near the churches during "simbang gabi". Filipinos believe that bibingka is a symbol of unity and closeness of each member of the Filipino family that's why they usually serve bibingka during Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Bibingka is made with rice flour, coconut milk and sugar. For more delicious and special bibingka, they added other ingredients like orange flavored soft drinks and topped with peanut and grated buko. The traditional way of preparing bibingka is time consuming yet worth it. Here are the processes, 1st, mix the ingredients. 2nd, line with a single large section of a banana leaf the terra cotta container. 3rd, pour the mixed ingredients into it but make sure not to spill the ingredients in the container itself. 4th, cover the terra cotta container with banana leaf and iron sheet with more preheated coals. Patience is needed in making bibingka until it's ready for serving.

After the long process of making bibingka, the product is now ready. Let me share you the appearance and texture of it. Bibingka is usually round shape and it is soft. It is similar to other native rice cake but it differs from the ingredients and its process. The banana leaf is the unique component in making bibingka because it adds an extra flavor to the bibingka.

Every Christmas season, I and my mom were used to attend "simbang gabi" in the church near in our house. And as we always do, we go home with bibingka or other native food. As we arrived at home, we usually eat it with its perfect match; coffee or hot chocolate. It’s better to eat bibingka while it's still hot or warm. I've already tasted bibingka from other part of our country but bibingka from Mohon is what I've really like.

Mohon's bibingka is very different from other bibingka in other provinces in Philippines. It may differ from the ingredients and from the process. Mohon's bibingka has the right amount of sweetness and has the right softness in texture. Mohon's bibingka tastes good and it's unique because it's chewable. I like it more when it's topped with peanut and grated buko. In line with it, Christmas season is near and Iloilo is the best place for your vacation. Don't forget to attend simbang gabi from the famous churches in Iloilo and try the bibingka from Mohon. You'll never regret it.