Tamilok dishes in San Juan de Bautista celebration

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

What do Tamilok Vegetable Omelet, Lina-pwa-han nga Tamilok, Binakol na Tamilok sa Kueon,  Bakhawan Express, Tamilok Barbecue, Tamilok Sinuglaw, Tamilok with Bamboo Shoot, Tamilok Kalibo Express, Turnip Tamilok  Express, Tamilok with Coconut Sauce and Binakoe sa Sueod it Niyog nga Butong have in common?

They are local and exotic delicacies cooked with the slimy and white wormwood or what the locals call as Tamilok. They are found in decaying wood in the mangrove areas of the famous Kalibo Bakhawan Eco-Park in Barangay New Buswang in Kalibo, Aklan.

Last June 23, winners of this year’s Tamilok cooking challenge and photo contest were feted by Kalibo Save the Mangroves Association (KASAMA) in collaboration with the Aklan Provincial Tourism Office, Kalibo Association of Tourist Guides, Kalibo Ati-Atihan Accommodations Association and Northwestern Visayan Colleges.

The events coincided in celebration of the feast of Kalibo patron Saint John the Baptist. 

"Tamilok Sinuglaw" recipe of Wilbert Sayson bagged the first prize out of twelve entries in the 2^nd Tamilok cooking challenge. He received P3,000. 

Michelle Fernandez, who cooked "Tamilok Kalibo Express", won second place for P2,000. The third place winner was Charlie Magsisi with the recipe “Tamilok with Coconut Sauce” for P1,000.

In the photo contest, Loida Cordova has won first place for her entry ‘Tamilok’ followed by the entry ‘The Reflection’ of Arpe Jay Carpio and the ‘Green Pearl of Kalibo’ entry of Joshua Quadra in third place.

The photo contest grand winner received P2,000. The second placer got P1,000 and P750 for third placer.  There were 21 entries in the photo contest.