The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is holding a five-day food festival this week to showcase the different Moro delicacies as part of the region’s 27th founding anniversary celebration in Marawi city.
The food festival opened Monday with foods and delicacies unique to the province of Maguindanao taking center stage. The array of authentic Maguindanaon delicacies included the baling, tinapayan, palapa, pastil, fried katipa, tapudi, lininggil, inasekan a layagan, blua, kumukunsi, tinadtag, and panganansising.
Two of the most prominent Maguindanaon delicacies are the pastil and sininang kambing.
Pastil is cooked rice topped with sauteed chicken or fish meat flakes, known as ‘kagikit’, that is wrapped in banana leaves. A modern take on this unique Maguindanaon dish features toasted fish meat, chicken or beef as kagikit, and hot and spicy flavored kagikit.
The sininang kambing, on the other hand, is tenderized goat meat cut into chunks cooked with with palapa, coconut milk, spices, garlic, onion, ginger, chives, chili and soy sauce. The spices and coconut milk bring a unique and contrasting flavor to the meat.
According to ARMM Tourism Sec. Ayesha Mangudadatu-Dilangalen, these foods are usually served during thanksgivings that Maguindanaon refer to as “kanduli”.
“It reflects their culture and traditions,” she said.
The food festival was made even more cheerful with live kulintang music from a traditional Maguindanaon ensemble, and with the Sagayan, a traditional dance in Maguindanao.
Sec. Dilangalen said the delicacies unique to the different provinces of the ARMM form part of the culture of peoples therein and holding a festival to showcase these foods spice up the celebration of the founding anniversary of the region.
The ARMM is composed of five provinces namely, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
The delicacies in the four other provinces will be featured in the following schedule this week: Lanao del Sur on November 15; Basilan on November 16; Sulu on November 17; and Tawi-Tawi on November 18.
Sec. Dilangalen said the 27th Pakaradjaan sa ARMM will highlight the rich culture of the Moro people as well as the variety of local products from the region’s different provinces.
"It's a great opportunity for the tourists to discover the rich culture of the region," Sec. Dilangalen said.
Since 2014, the ARMM has held Food Festivals to showcase an astounding range of foods distinct to each province.
The food festival marks the celebration of the region’s diverse flavors reflecting its culture, and a celebration of cuisine and culinary talents of the Moro people. (BPI/PIA-10)
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