Coconut, The Tree of Life: My Walis Tingting

I am feeling nostalgic again, it is spring time in Europe and yet it is cloudy and rainy. I feel very cold and I am missing my home, the Philippines. Walis Tingting is one of the things I asked my friends to bring me when they travel back to Germany. I was missing it while cleaning the yard , especially during the autumn season . I am not used using those brushes with long handles to clean a yard. And so when my friends asked me what I want as a "pasalubong" from the Philippines, I asked them for the Walis Tingting. 

Walis Tingting is a housewife's early morning weapon in the morning in the Philippines to clean the yard from dirts and garbage. There is no house or home in the Phiippines without it. I find it so easy to use them and so sturdy and strong, unlike those brushes which they asked me to use in Germany and most of all , I can clean faster and better. 

Walis is the Filipino (Tagalog) word for Broom and Tingting is stick of midribs of coconut leaves, hence it is called "broomstick" in English. Together with a nice and strong dustpan, autumn leaves have no match with me. They are generally used to clean or sweep the bare floor or ground  on the yard. 

Walis Tingting is made from the midribs of the coconut leaves and mostly used outdoors. Can you imagine how many leaves of coconut are needed to have one piece of Walis Tingting and the patience of those people producing them. The last time I was in the Philippines, my dearest neighbor had given 2 pieces to me as a welcome gift and I was very happy. They are part of Filipino way of life which I brought with me in Austria and Germany. I left one of my 2 pieces in Klosterneuburg in Lower Austria where I lived for some months and which I used to clean the backyard and soon my favorite one will be thrown away in Germany. 

There I was below, using my very reliable Walis Tingting. I was so proud to use them cleaning our frontyard in Bremen. Not one of my neighbor has what I have to clean their yard faster. 

A Sari-Sari store (Variety store) which is also selling Walis Tingting. They not only sell food, but also have a big supply of the Walis because they are always in demand. And below is an old couple who produce these  Walis Tingting which they source from the Coconut Tree around their backyard. They were going to supply a variety store with their produce.

There is nothing like this in Europe. This is something I so treasure from my home, the Philippines and it gives me a little joy on this cold,  lonely day to write about it as it is part of me being a Filipino

Panaderia - The Philippines Bakery or Bakeshop

A very interesting visit to a Panaderia in Torrijos, Marinduque. Me and my sister and brothers and my in-laws enjoyed it a lot.

 My sister and my nephew enjoying together a crispy baked goodies

Hotdog and Hamburger buns are also available

  My sister-in-law , my brother and their eldest son had a blast choosing those delicious bread which we all enjoyed when we were young

Who will not enjoy sitting and relaxing in these bamboo chairs infront of this Panaderia on a sunny afternoon

Those delicious breads of course needs a partner as usual, the partner of baked treats is soda.

My sister flew all the way from Houston, Texas was so proud of her "pack of treat"

I was happy to find Pinagong , something which I enjoyed  when I was 9 years old when my grandfather (Lolo) brought me to Torrijos 

The Philippines Talipapa

Talipapa is the Tagalog word that refers to a small, temporary food market , usually a makeshift market and also a mobile or roaming  market which is called Talipapang Gala.

Talipapang Gala makes used of rectangular box-like wooden structure with 4 wheels  being pushed to sell and offer the goods all displayed inside the wooden structure. Nowadays, the last time I visited my country, some are already using bicycles and motorcycles to sell food assorted vegetables and fruits and even fish and meat.

It amazes me all the time how inventive the Filipinos are and I am happy we have these things in the Philippines. It makes marketing for food easier and simplier for those housewives who has not enough time to visit a big wet maket which is usually located at the city center.

Please enjoy my pictures of these Talipapa as much as I enjoy them. I do miss my home.  Below are pictures I made of an example of Talipapang Gala which stopped right infront of my house in San Pablo City in the Philippines. There is nothing like this in Europe. 

Snacks (Merienda) and Street Food from Philippines: Tokneneng

Pictures of Tokneneng below and how it is made.

Torrijos, Marinduque: White Beach and Tinaphan

The black and white pictures below were taken when I was 9 years old. I will never forget this vacation . It was when my Lolo Polonio went back to Torrijos after his visit to us  bringing me along. I will never forget all the beautiful memories I had during this vacation with my Lolo and my Tiya Haydee when they still lived in a small native hut (Bahay Kubo) in Daungan.

Below are newly-catched Tulingan, a Skipjack  Tuna brought by the fishermen from the Laot (translated as Open Sea)  early in the morning, Laot is the term used in Marinduque where fishermen go to fish using their motorboats. They all leave in the evening or before sunset to fish then return early morning in Daungan (harbor/wharf) where the locals, especially the housewives are already waiting to buy the freshly caught fish.

These are usually made by my Aunt as Tinaphan, smoked fish in Marinduque, then eaten as soon as they are ready.

I will never forget these Tinaphan and its smoky taste. These are one of the goodies (Pasalubong) brought by ma Lolo (grandfather) whenever he visits us in Valenzuela when we were young. They are smoked perfectly and still maintain its freshness even without frying.

My grandfather lived in Torrijos with my Tiya (Aunt) Haydee and her family until his death, but once in a while he visits my mom bringing all goodies my Tiya Haydee prepared for us, such as Tinaphan, fresh fermented fish (Bagoong) in old bottles of Tanduay Rum, and Matamis na Bao (sweetened coconut milk)

I will never forget my grandfather, Apolonio. He was such as sweet Lolo (grandfather). He visited  my mom and all of us every now and then travelling by boat  for more than 10 hours from Torrijos to our residence in valenzuela with all the Pasalubong (gifts/presents usually brought by someone arriving from a trip) he can bring us.

The Tinaphan or Smoked Tuna called  Tulingan is seen below which my sister and I enjoyed very much during our last trip to the Philippines, It was freshly caught and smoked at once, then served to us, to our surprise.

Tulingan is also called Tambakol and Tangingi in Philippines. In English, it is called Skipjack Tuna.