Longganisang Lucban:
Our Neighborhood’s Favorite
by Toni
de Villa
It was Tuesday morning on a month of May. Every house in the
street of Sampaguita was busy getting ready for their usual routine. Any regular Filipino
home wouldn’t miss a heavy meal during breakfast, at least thrice a week. I
can’t miss mine, it was one of those rare moments when I get to have may rest day and
enjoy good food.
Something a bit
extraordinary happened this day. I was awakened by a distinct smell coming from our
kitchen. My dad was cooking native sausages that we bought from a nearby town, Lucban,
Quezon. I did not head to the kitchen right away but went outside instead to get a fresh
scent of the morning dew, but to my surprise the same delicious smell from the kitchen
came to my senses that morning. And there I knew, our neighbors were also cooking the
same. It is our neighborhood’s favorite dish of the day coupled with garlic rice and
fried egg. Don’t forget the vinegar for a quick dip every time you take a bite. It
just adds to the flavorful taste of the famous “Longganisang Lucban.”
If
you’re a bit tired of your usual pandesal with coffee or quick stop at fast foods
just get your crumbling stomach put to a stop, this catchy food from our native town
Lucban will give you the perfect and satisfying taste in the morning. It has been said
that ingredients of this food is kept secret. Just to take a peek, this sumptuous taste is
made of ground meat and fat, mixed with many garlic bits, dash of black pepper, oregano,
vinegar and other secret spices. I dared to ask a few good cooks to share their recipe,
but it was unsuccessful. No information was divulged. |
Plenty of these
sausages can be originally found in Lucban, Quezon but there are also suppliers from
nearby places like Tayabas stretching up to Lucena. This is sold per dozen and is priced
at P55 (Prices may vary depending on the sizes of these sausages). Covered in brown paper,
longganisang lucban (uncooked) should be kept in normal to cold temperature to keep it
fresh.
Lucban is one of the most-visited places in Quezon
Province especially during summer. It has continued to be the undeniable Summer Capital in
Southen Tagalog for its inviting and cold weather. It was told in the myth that five men
found Lucban Quezon during the 16th century in the persons of Marcos Tigla,
Lucas Guimba, Lucas Galandang, Lucas Nanawa and Antonio Manduman. And it was in fact,
Marcos Tigla who became the first “kapitan.” A year later, people flocked in
this town not only because of its weather but also its places. One particular site is its
church. It was built in 1630 by the order of Kapitan Lucas Martin. But in 1732, a huge
fire hit this Roman Catholic church and none was left except for the convent. But years
later, it was rebuilt and has remained to be hot spot for tourist until now for its
nostalgic façade.
|
