A Re-VIEW of Baler’s Market Trends

Bi-polar weather continues in the city of Manila.  One minute it’s raining cats and dogs, then in a wink of an eye,  it’s gorgeous and sunny. As the weekend approaches, thoughts go back to my summer trip to the beautiful city of Baler in the province of Aurora…. Read my first entry on Baler here.

Our 6-hour van ride came to  a grueling stop for breakfast as a sign greeted us…. A No Parking sign with a smile, I like that.

Maybe it was meant for this pimpin’ ride parked out in front of the capital’s weekly market…. Tomorrow is Saturday and Saturday is market day in Baler.  I remembered it being such a pleasant shopping experience. The people were so nice and friendly.  They sell everything from fresh vegetables, meat, fish, their local sweet delicacies and even toys, fashion items and books.  The market was well-kept and clean and you had this sense of a close-knit community. There was a man approaching each vendor with a megaphone and announcing their specials.  That’s what you call marketing. 😉

My purchases were diverse.  I bought the ingredients for one of my favorite salads, a native Baler dish called Ensaladang Pako, which is composed of their fern variant (locally called pako), onions, salted eggs, tomatoes and their local vinegar.   To satisfy my sweet tooth, luck was on my side when I came across THE famous Nanay Pacing in the market selling the last of her coco jam, peanut butter, and her other popular delicacies which I readily swooped up as if they were the last in the planet!  My favorite was her sapin-sapin, a rice cake, which according to expert foodie and food writer/columnist, CJ Junterreal, “It’s very delicately flavored with anise (not star anise, which is different). Anise has a distinct, sort of cough syrup taste, like fennel seed,” when I asked what that certain interesting flavor was.

Then of course the fashion stylist in me couldn’t resist purchasing some leggings in fascinating prints and tie-dyed blouses to have on hand just in case.  Who could say no to these market prices? Perhaps a mixed prints themed shoot brewing in the horizon?

Delightful summer colors were at a vibrant high.  Please click on an image for a better view….

This bright-red, polka dotted umbrella along with their equally bright and happy smiles caught my eye….

What a wonderful place!

Thank you to photographer, Menchit Ongpin, and  food and lifestyle writer, CJ Junterreal, for allowing me to tag along your food trip and to Rikka Sotto for showing us the beauty of Baler! 😉

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