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A town’s festival is oftentimes in celebration of the most significant local product which contributes to its economic prosperity. Such festivals were conceptualized to let the locals (1) thank the Creator for the bountiful produce that they received for the year and (2) hold an event slanted on promoting local tourism through its product and/or livelihood.
San Nicolas is among the municipalities in Batangas with a festival that draws attention to its most important product. And in this lakeshore town, maliputo is the star!
Caranx ignobilis
Maliputo (Caranx ignobilis) is a freshwater fish that is found in Taal Lake. Also called giant trevally, a maliputo can weigh up to 3 kilos.
You might have heard about maliputong labas and maliputong loob. The difference lies on whether the maliputo was caught inside or outside of Taal Lake. Hence, the names. If you hear about muslo and talakitok, these two and maliputo are all the same. According to Ms. Nhelinda Castillo, San Nicolas Tourism Officer, the one being caught in Balayan Bay is referred to as talakitok while muslo is the young maliputo which you can find in Taal Lake.
Bountiful catch is during the months of August, September, October, and November. The rarity causes its market price to be as high as P600 per kilo. Good thing though, the price is worth it. Maliputo is known for its firm and tasty flesh that can be served in different ways according to your culinary expertise.
Maliputo Festival of San Nicolas
Maliputo Festival was launched in 1997 during the first term of office of Mayor Epifanio “Peping” Sandoval. Celebrated every 8th of August, the foundation day of San Nicolas, the event lists typical festival activities such as street dancing but the highlight of it is the cook fest that showcases various maliputo dishes.
Common ways of cooking maliputo is sinigang (with tangy flavor of tamarind and some vegetables), inihaw (grilled), or fried alongside bagoong with calamansi. The cook fest contestants show off their culinary skills in innovating maliputo dishes. Prior to the cook fest, each participant is given two (2) kilos of maliputo which they will maximize in the contest. They will be the ones to purchase their own ingredients according to their must-be winning dish.
Last year’s winning dish was sisig maliputo. Have you ever tried a fish-based sisig? We’d love to! And we are also wondering what other dishes could be done with maliputo as the main ingredient.
The contestant with the best maliputo dish will get cash and trophy as prizes plus a project to be awarded to the barangay which he/she represents.
The first years of Maliputo Festival were made possible through the partnership of the local government and the Department of Education – San Nicolas. It was only two years ago that the women’s organization, KALIPI, started working hand-in-hand with the festival committee.
Bancaton Festival was the first festival of San Nicolas, held during the poblacion fiesta. It remains a part of the celebration until now and is done early in the morning after the mass and before the cook fest.
Below are the activities for the celebration of the 2013 Maliputo Festival.
Photo: phtraveldes.blogspot.com (sinigang na maliputo)
Last Updated: September 6, 2013
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