Pinasgram: Capturing the Philippines in Photographs

Espasol

Espasol is a type of rice cake that is made of rice flour cooked in coconut milk. This cylindrically shaped treat originated from the Province of Laguna, the Philippines. Cooking the glutinous rice flour, sugar and toasted grated coconut mixture usually takes an hour as the mixture need to become really thick to achieve the right consistency. Once cooled, it is then cut into desired size and rolled over dusted sweet rice flour until a cylindrical shape is formed.

Puto is a steamed rice muffin made from galapong or rice flour. It is traditionally in plain white color budding ube (purple yam) or pandan can create variations in flavor and color. It is usually being sold with Kutsinta but Filipinos love to eat Puto together with Dinuguan. A more recent variation of Puto is Puto Pao that has a meat filling just like the Siopao.

Palitaw is made from ground glutinous rice and sugar and got its name from the manner it is cooked. It is quite easy and fun to make as all you have to do is from into small the ground malagkit and flatten with fingers to form tongues. Drop in boiling water, when they float (lumitaw or lumutang), skim and drop in cold water. Drain and roll in mixed grated coconut, sugar, and sesame see mixture and you're done!

Kutsinta is another native delicacy that is sweet, sticky, and golden brown rice pudding that is made from ground malagkit. Achuete is used for coloring and lye is added to improve its texture. The kutsinta ingredients are put into molds and steamed for 15 minutes. It is usually served with freshly grated coconut.

Suman is a famous kakanin made from glutinous rice and usually wrapped tightly in leaves. The leaf wrapper - banana, palm, buri or pandan - varies according to locality. Filipinos have been making suman since pre-colonial times. Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian scholar and explorer who travelled with Ferdinand Magellan, provides the first description of suman in historical records which he observed "were wrapped in leaves and were made in somewhat longish pieces".

Kalamay-hati is a native kakanin or rice cake made from ground sticky rice, sugar, mascuvado, coconut milk and sesame seeds. It is brownish in color and is very sticky that you will almost spend your whole time time chewing. It's not easy to prepare as you have to spend around 2 hours cooking it with continuous stirring to achieve the tough-leathery texture (makunat). It is usually stored inside empty coconut husk or boa.

Biko is a Filipino rice cake made from glutinous rice, coconut milk, and brown sugar. Traditionally, this delicious rice cake is placed over banana leaves in a bilao and garnished with latik on top. Other variations of biko will have custard like topping or matapis na bao (caramel like topping) instead of latik.

Sapin-Sapin is a native dessert made from glutinous rice flour, purple yam or ube, coconut cream and sugar. It is a multilayer rice cake with different colors usually white, yellow and purple. The texture is very fine and should melt in your mouth without spending much time chewing. It is topped with latik.

Manaoag, Pangasinan is one of the Philippines' pilgrimage centers, thanks to the presence of the Our Lady of Manaoag Shrine, home to the image of the Nuestra Senora del Rosario, which is believed to have miraculous powers. Non-Catholics may scoff at such idolatrous devotions, but that has not deterred millions of Filipino Catholics from visiting the shrine and venerating this representation of Virgin Mary.

The Basilica of Sto. Nino, also called Basilica del Santo Nino, Basilica Minore del Santo Nino and formerly known as the San Agustin Church prior to its elevation as a Basilica Minore, is a 16th century in the heart of Cebu City, the Philippines. It is purportedly built on the exact spot where the image of the Santo Nino, a sculpture depicting Jesus as a black Holy Child, was found by Spanish conquistadors in 1565 preserved in a burned wooden box which was left behind during the 1521 Magellan expedition.

Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral, better know as Baguio Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral located at Cathedral Loop, adjacent to Session Road in Baguio City, the Philippines. It is distinct for its rose-colored exterior and is one of the most photographed buildings in Baguio City. It served as an evacuation center during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II.

San Jose Church in Ivana, Batanes was built in 1814, although its foundation dates back to 1795. Of all the old churches in Batanes, it is the only one that was not built in the Espadana style. It has a crenellated fortress-like campanile or bellower that gives the appearance of a fortification. Fronts the Ivana Seaport and offers a commanding view of the sea and surrounding countryside due to its elevation. Located 14 kilometers from Basco, Batanes, the Philippines.

The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, also known as Saint John the Baptist Parish and informally known as Quiapo Church is a prominent Roman Catholic Church Latin-rite Basilica located in the District of Quiapo, Manila, the Philippines. The church is reputedly famous for enshrining the Black Nazarene, a dark statue of Jesus Christ which many faithful claim to have miraculous powers. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Manila.

Our Lady of the Assumption Church is located in Dauis, Island of Panglao, Bohol. The church was founded by the Jesuits Fr. Diego de Ayala and Joseph Gregorio. It is built in a mixture of styles, influenced by both Byzantine and Romanesque architecture. Inside, on the ceiling, are some impressive frescoes painted by Ray Francia in 1916. Lito Arraya renovated the building in 1970.

The church's patron saint, the Virgin of the Assumption, is said to possess miraculous powers. An old legend relates that once, when the town was invaded by pirates, the people of Dauis locked themselves into the church. However, they soon ran out of provisions and water. Then a miracle occurred: a well appeared at the foot of the altar. This same well is still the main source of water for the people living close to the church, and although the well in only a few meters from the sea, the water is absolutely fresh. The water is said to have healing powers.

The Basilica Minore de San Sebastian, better known as San Sebastian Church, is a Roman Catholic Minor Basilica in Manila, the Philippines. It is the seat of the Parish of San Sebastian and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

San Sebastian Church was completed in 1891, it is noted for its architectural features. An example of the revival of Gothic architecture in the Philippines, it has been recognized by the UNESCO as the only all-steel church or basilica in Asian. It has also been implausibly reputed to be the first prefabricated building in the world, and more plausibly claimed as the only prefabricated steel church in the world. In 2006, San Sebastian Church was included in the Tentative List for possible designation as a World Heritage Site. It was designated as a National Historical Landmark by the Philippine government in 1973.

San Agustin Church is a Roman Catholic church under the auspices of The Order of St. Augustine, located inside the historic walled city of Intramuros in Manila. Completed by 1607, it is the oldest church currently standing in the Philippines. No other surviving building in the Philippines has been claimed to pre-date San Agustin Church.

In 1993, San Agustin Church as one of the four Philippine churches constructed during the Spanish colonial period designated by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, under the classification "Baroque Churches of the Philippines". It had been named a National Historical Landmark by the Philippine government in 1976.

Barasoain Church (also known as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish) is a Roman Catholic church built in 1630 in Malolos, Bulacan. Having earned the title as the Cradle of Democracy in the East, most important religious buildings in the Philippines, and the site of the First Philippine Republic, the church is proverbial for its historical importance among Filipinos. Founded by Augustinian Missionaries in 1859, the church is also renowned for its architectural design and internal adornments. The original church was burned during the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution however, it was renovated. It is about 42 kilometers away from the Manila, the Philippines.

Paoay Church is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. The church was constructed in 1704 and was completed in 1894 by the Augustinian friars led by Fr. Antonio Estavillo. It is considered as the best-known "earthquake Baroque" church in the Philippines. Large coral stones were used for the lower level while bricks were used for the upper levels of the church. The walls are 1.67 meters thick and are supported by 24 carved and massive buttresses. It is a combination of Gothic, Baroque and Oriental architectural designs.

Crispy Pata is a famous Filipino pork dish that uses a whole pig's leg. It is made tender by simmering in water along with other spices. It is then rubbed with seasonings and deep-fried until the texture becomes very crunchy. It is popularly known as beer food or "pulutan" in the Philippines.

Binakol is a native chicken dish from the province of Aklan, the Philippines. It is cooked in a bamboo to help seal the natural flavor of the ingredients. The coconut milk and juice adds sweetness to the dish and the lemon grass and finer gives it a pungent taste. To some, it is considered a variety dish of the Filipino popular dish, "tinola".

Dinuguan is a Filipino savory stew of blood and meat (and/or pig internal organs) simmered in rich spicy gravy of pig blood, garlic, chili, and vinegar. Its name is derived from a Filipino word which literally means "blood". It is usually served with white rice or a Philippine rice cake called "puto".

Mechado is a popular Philippine dish traditionally cooked with beef brisket, potatoes, pimiento (red bell peppers), and tomatoes. It is similar to beef stew but with elements of a Filipino ingredient, fish sauce (paris).

Pinakbet is an indigenous Filipino dish from the Northern regions of the Philippines. It is made from mixed vegetables steamed in fish or shrimp sauce. It is comprised of different vegetables such as eggplant, squash, string beans, ampalaya, okra, and others.

Kare-kare is a traditional Filipino stew complimented with a thick savory peanut sauce. It is commonly prepared using ox tail, trip, and pork leg. Besides the peanut sauce, it depends on the shrimp paste (served on the side) in order to be fully enjoyed.

Sisig is a Filipino dish that originated from Pampanga, a province located at the Northern part of the Philippines. It is a popular appetizer (pulutan) for beer drinkers. It is made of pig's head, chopped and fried.

Kaldereta is a spicy meat stew popular in the Philippines. It is prepared with either goat meat or beef stewed in tomato sauce with red bell peppers and liver. It is a favorite Filipino dish served during parties, festivities, and other special occasions in the Philippines.

Kilawin is an exotic delicacy with main ingredient of raw fish or meat. The main ingredient is seasoned is seasoned or marinated with vinegar, pepper, chili, chopped onions, and garlic served fresh. It is a common dish found in almost every part of the Philippines prepared in variations of meat, seafood, and vegetables as the main ingredient.

Tinola is a ginger and onion based soup served as a viand or main entree in the Philippines. Traditionally, tinola is cooked with chicken, wedges of green papaya, and chili pepper leaves, in broth flavored with ginger, onions, and fish sauce. It is best served during cold and rainy weather because of the warming effect of the soup.

Lechon is the most popular specialty food among Filipinos, especially during national festivities (knows as fiestas), the holiday season, and other special occasions such as weddings, graduations, birthdays and baptisms, or family get-togethers. It is prepared by price of gold stuffing herbs and spices inside the pig's body after it has been cleaned and skewered, positioned above heated charcoal, and wait for skin to turn reddish from roasting. Today, it is prepared in the varieties of pic, chicken, or cow.

Sinigang is a sour soup, marked as a Filipino comfort food, a blend of ingredients prepared to its sour perfection, enticing the palate, soothing the nerves, rousing the senses. Sinigang is a soul food - one will feel refreshed and nourished. It is cooked in different variations of beef, pork, chicken, fish and shrimp.

Adobo, the acknowledged Philippine national dish. It is emblematic of the Philippines' culinary heritage and history, the most popular dish close to the heart - or rather stomach - of every Filipino. It is prepared using variety of meats - pork, chicken, beef and even seafood like squid - or certain vegetables like spinach or the flower of the banana. However the most common way of serving adobo is using pork, solely or in combination with chicken.

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