"I observed how they prepare this popular soup dish. They just prepare everything right before your eyes. I saw bones, mainly skulls, in a stainless basin."
[BANGUED, ABRA, PHILIPPINES]▬ Our host said we have to wake up early to be able to experience what this soup dish found in Brgy Patucannay has to offer the best way. I already have an idea what is this. But somehow, the feeling is different whenever I experience it in Abra.
[BANGUED] ▬ STEAM COMING OUT FROM THE HOT SOUP
With the determination to wake-up early, I set my alarm, took a deep breathe then allowed my body to sleep. I should have become more nocturnal a li'l bit but yeah, I'll be in Patucannay tomorrow so I have to be an early bird. Uh, thanks conscience. You are a great driving force made by God, not science. At least my conscience has to remind me that I can ruin the whole day if I have to let others wait for me.
Anyway, challenge accepted. You know, if you are a social media type of guy or the cool-er blogger type, you'll love to take advantage of the faster internet connection later at night when this bunch of some freakin' high school facebook users posting crying selfies of not being able to buy ticket for One Direction concert are asleep! Deymn! Imagine? You have to sacrifice for them just to get rid of these young freakin' facebook generation? That's just my idea anyway. Let's go back to Patucannay.
[BANGUED] ▬ GOOD MORNING ABRA VALLEY!!!
Then the next day came. "Good morning Abra!", my conscience squealed. I made it. The magnificent view of Mt Bullagao triggered these neurochemicals to give me that excitement and the rush. The view from the hotel terrace was really an effective stimulus to make me sing the high school rhyme/song, "I'm alert, awake, alive, enthusiastic (repeat 2x). I'm alert, awake, alive (repeat 3x) enthusiastic"! Pak!
Suddenly, the service car is there. We're ready to go to Patucannay!
[BANGUED] ▬ HOW THEY PREPARE THIS SOUP DISH
We reached Patucannay still hearing some cocks crowing. Our guide-hosts asked where is that house serving that soup dish. Then we saw a house.
"So, a house?" I said to myself. It seemed like there are no restaurants here, let alone a carinderia. But this house went out of the norm. You do not need a fancy restaurant if you got that kick-ass recipe. Confirmed. This house is the Baldera's pansitan.
In Abra, they have this soup dish they call as pansit or miki. In Patucannay, Baldera's pansitan is the house to find. As early as 6 AM, people are here. Maybe this house offers the best miki in town.
[BANGUED] ▬ SWINE SKULL, COULD ALSO BE CATTLE'S
I observed how they prepare this popular soup dish. They just prepare everything right before your eyes. I saw bones, mainly skulls, in a stainless basin. They boil this to extract those tasteful bone marrows. The water becomes a part of the soup.
Usually, the most common ingredients for this miki are the noodles (usually home-made, made of flour) and pork. Egg is an option. It can be boiled, or just mixed in the soup.
[BANGUED] ▬ MIKI NOODLES
[BANGUED] ▬ PORK
[BANGUED] ▬ WITH THE EGG
[BANGUED] ▬ LEFT: MIKI WITHOUT SOUP, RIGHT: MIKI WITH SOUP
[BANGUED] ▬ CHILLY ADD-ON
[BANGUED] ▬ MIKI NOODLE SOUP IS READY TO EAT
[BANGUED] ▬ MIKI EATERS QUEUEING
Atchuete is the reason for the color of the soup. It's not miki anymore without the identifying color. I can't remember the cost of one big bowl. But usually, it ranges from 30-60 pesos depending on the ingredients and the size of the serving.
The reason why we have to come here early is because they run out of supply fast. So at noon, the miki house is already closed because of these great number of miki eaters that come here.
This was as good as breakfast. Now we have the energy to continue for the next activities of the day. ▬ to be continued...
The reason why we have to come here early is because they run out of supply fast. So at noon, the miki house is already closed because of these great number of miki eaters that come here.
This was as good as breakfast. Now we have the energy to continue for the next activities of the day. ▬ to be continued...
[UP NEXT] ▬ I TOOK A SELFIE NOW THAT THE STREET IS STILL EMPTY.
► ABRA MARCH 2015 TRAVEL SERIES
With a tummy solved and a body energized, we went straight to the provincial capitol of Abra. The street is still empty so I took a selfie because later on, this place will be crowded. What will happen here? Hang on for Part 8.
Part 1![]()
TEASER► ...as the sun sets down with the silhouette of Mt Bullagao, west of the river valley, I leave the place. I never attempted to stay there after dark. | Part 2![]()
TEASER► I thought it would be another ordinary trade fair but I was wrong. The padaya gave me many answers on my search for truth and knowledge: reasons why I love traveling. | Part 3![]()
TEASER► Who would have thought that today, their pasture became greener by keeping the inheritance manifested through their weaving skills. | Part 4![]()
TEASER► Abra has no beach. This river serves as a summer getaway. The sunset here is unique. It represents Abra's distinct landscape. | Part 5![]()
TEASER► Although the stigma of Abra in the politics world is the source of its infamy, there will still be a light to enlighten the dark ages. | Part 6![]()
TEASER► I was surprised even more how rich the culture of Abra is. Very rich. Very unique. Their identity and culture make Abra a very interesting province to love and take care. | Part 7 | Part 8![]()
TEASER► No million-dollar dance show can ever fathom the depth of the meaning of the dances their ancestors wanted them to execute. | Part 9![]()
TEASER► They have proven that the province of Abra is a sterling destination for mountain culture lovers.
[BANGUED] ▬ My First Midnight in the Hill of Cassamata via Oval Era
_________________TEASER► ...as the sun sets down with the silhouette of Mt Bullagao, west of the river valley, I leave the place. I never attempted to stay there after dark. | Part 2
[BANGUED] ▬ Padaya Trade Fair: Abra Local Industries' Heart & Soul
_________________TEASER► I thought it would be another ordinary trade fair but I was wrong. The padaya gave me many answers on my search for truth and knowledge: reasons why I love traveling. | Part 3
[LA PAZ] ▬ A Village of Abel (Loom) Weavers in Abra Called Bulbulala
_________________TEASER► Who would have thought that today, their pasture became greener by keeping the inheritance manifested through their weaving skills. | Part 4
[BANGUED] ▬ Abra River Sunset in Calaba
_________________TEASER► Abra has no beach. This river serves as a summer getaway. The sunset here is unique. It represents Abra's distinct landscape. | Part 5
[BANGUED] ▬ Silnag: Night Parade of Floats, Lighted with Love and Pride
_________________TEASER► Although the stigma of Abra in the politics world is the source of its infamy, there will still be a light to enlighten the dark ages. | Part 6
[BANGUED] ▬ A Night of Traditional Dances and Cultural Rites
_________________TEASER► I was surprised even more how rich the culture of Abra is. Very rich. Very unique. Their identity and culture make Abra a very interesting province to love and take care. | Part 7 | Part 8
[BANGUED] ▬ Kawayan Festival: The Biggest Cultural Show in Abra
_________________TEASER► No million-dollar dance show can ever fathom the depth of the meaning of the dances their ancestors wanted them to execute. | Part 9
[BANGUED] ▬ Bamboo Float Parade and the Cool Mountain Tribes
_________________TEASER► They have proven that the province of Abra is a sterling destination for mountain culture lovers.
► FOOTNOTES, DISCLAIMERS, ACKNOWLEDGMENT, ETC
[1] This experience was made possible through Vice Governor Chari Bersamin who invited us to witness the Abra Kawayan Festival. With me is fellow travel blogger Estan Cabigas of langyaw.com.
[2] The maps I used below are the works of Mike Gonzalez and Eugene Alvin Villar on Wikipedia. Source: 1 | 2
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[2] The maps I used below are the works of Mike Gonzalez and Eugene Alvin Villar on Wikipedia. Source: 1 | 2
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