Rave: Super Size Pastillas

Today, my home province of Bulacan shall attempt to hit the "Amazing Feats" Category of the prestigious Guiness Book of World Records with the longest pastillas (pastilles) in the world. This sweet-tooth event will coincide with the 430th founding anniversary of the province.

Pastillas is a delicacy which is basically made up of pure carabao's milk and sugar. This mixture is boiled until it becomes soft and white-brown and rolled under a bed of granulated white sugar. Then it is traditionally wrapped in an intricately colorful and painstakingly designed papel de hapon.

Numerous provinces and towns in the Philippines have attempted to rival yet miserably failed the pastillas made in the town of San Miguel. Since then, San Miguel has been considered the pastillas capital since they produce the best tasting pastillas. Hands down, the BEST!

I remember my Dad would drive all the way to San Miguel just to buy pastillas from his supplier. He buys it by the kilo because it is cheaper than to buy it by the box. Though bought by the kilo, the pastillas are still carefully wrapped and placed in boxes. And when he comes home, my family would immediately devour these pastillas. So when my parents migrated in the States, we almost filled up a balikbayan box with pastillas as pasalubong for my brothers, sisters and of course, for their grandchildren.

As my fellow Bulakenyos unwrap this mouth-watering 200 meter pastillas at the province's Capitol Grounds, I can just imagine the creamy goodness of The Bulacan Pastillas.