Try out these different dishes from Zambales

A lot of Filipinos may only remember Zambales as the location of Mount Pinatubo or for the different beaches and islands that can be found there.

But aside from these destinations that are a favorite among travelers, Zambales also offers different dishes that include unique ingredients, such as the unique sea creatures known as onse-onse, kukong kabayo, at lipistikan that can be found on Magalawa Island in Zambales.

On another visit to Zambales by Biyahe ni Drew, they learned about the unique ingredient that is taken from ants that the natives know as hubok.

The natives of Zambales use hubok eggs as an ingredient in their food. According to them, it helps out their bodies and it serves as a viand whenever they don't have one on hand. Native children would also take hubok eggs to school as a snack.

Harvesting the hubok eggs is a tiresome and often painful process. Once a hubok nest is found, a pole and a circular basket is needed to catch the falling hubok eggs. After this, they need to sift their catch or put it near a fire to separate the live hubok from the eggs.

For travelers looking for more convetional fare, they can check out the Momo Flakes food truck that travels to different parts of Zambales. It is owned by Kayl Diño and is famous for its Momo Flakes Rice Bowl that Kayl says was inspired by his mother.

“Sa totoo lang, hindi talaga ako marunong mag-luto at all. 'Yung nanay ko may adobo flakes kasi even way back nung bata pa lang kami, may naka-ready na talagang adobo flakes sa bahay just in case tinatamad siyang magluto,” he shared.

[Honestly, I don't know how to cook at all. It was my mom who had the adobo flakes because even way back when we were children, there were adobo flakes ready just in case she didn't feel like cooking.]

Watch the whole video below.