Ber months are never complete among us Pinoys if we do not have our puto bumbong and bibingka fix which are best eaten with your choice of hot tea or coffee. But there are times when you would just wish that each month of the calendar would end with the "-ber" syllable. People are just happier, kinder to one another. And, of course, the food way, way better. Di ba, wish mo rin, araw-araw ay Pasko?
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| Puto bumbong brings back good memories of the holidays. |
Aling Aida, a warm and friendly senior citizen who resides in Malinta, just made this simple wish come true through their puto bumbong stall which serves those sticky purple rice cake wrapped in banana leaves whole year round. During the interview, Aling Aida mentioned that they initially offer puto bumbong during the Ber months only. But the people have been very receptive towards the puto bumbong that they sell and so, they tried to keep their stall open every afternoon from December 2017 onwards. It can be read in the One Valenzuela Facebook page that many customers have given praises towards the classic puto bumbong that Aling Aida and Kuya Melvin (her apo who assists her since he was in high school) prepare. Aling Aida has been cooking and selling these steamed delicacies for about 40 years now.
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| Aling Aida of Barangay Malinta: Tagahatid ng Pasko sa pamamagitan ng lutong puto pumbong. |
One Valenzuela was blessed to have a brief talk with Aling Aida who stopped cooking puto bumbong for a few minutes to answer some questions (Salamat po, Nanay Aida.)
Gaano katagal na po kayong nagluluto ng puto bumbong? Dito na rin po sa pwestong ito?
Ah, since 1979. Doon kami dati sa, ano, Western. Doon kasi ang bahay ng lola ko noong araw. Taal po kaming taga-Malinta. Mga Cruz po kami at Doma.
Bakit po puto bumbong ang inyong niluluto? Matagal ninyo na pong recipe ito?
Niluluto yan sa kawayan. Mula po sa lola ko, hanggang sa nanay ko, tapos ako na, tapos siya na (Kuya Melvin). Nagluluto na at nagbebenta na talaga ang pamilya. Bata pa ako, simula't sapul na.
Ang presyo po dati ng puto bumbong? Noong 1970's?
Ano lang yata, Php2.00 isang balot. Yung niluluto namin ngayon, katulad pa rin ng dati. Hindi kami nag-iiba ng lasa. Yun at yun pa rin ang lasa. Pangkaraniwan, malakas talaga pag Ber na. Tsaka may mga tawag kami sa mga okasyon. Pag Ber na, yung dalawa kong anak ang nagseservice. Ako, hindi na kaya. Christmas party, birthday - mga ganyan. Pagsampa ng September, talagang mabili na.
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| Aling Aida shares a light moment with the customers who patiently wait for their turn to be served. |
Mabili. Mula January (2018), wala kaming tigil. Tuluy- tuloy, hindi na kami tumigil. Kaya maraming natutuwang mga balikbayan. Dati raw nakakakain lang sila, Ber lang. Mabuti raw kami nagstraight na, whole year. Pag uuwi sila galing sa ibang bansa, may nakakakain silang puto bumbong.
Yung inyo pong lutong puto bumbong ay classic po, ano? Walang condense, cheese (na hanap ng iba).
Oo, tradisyunal siya. Pero sabi nga nila, masarap. Hindi na kailangan ng iba pa. May libre pang tsaa.
Nagluto nga kami sa Ermita niyan (tsaa), Chinese pinaglutuan namin. Tuwang-tuwa yung Chinese na umorder samin. Mayroon silang kinainang birthday (na nagserve kami ng puto bumbong), nagustuhan nila. Tapos tumawag, kung pwede raw kami sa birthday niya. Hatid-sundo kami, kasi wala kaming sasakyan. Gustung-gusto nila yung puto bumbong. Tapos sabi, tatawagan daw kami ulit.
Sa isang araw po, gaano karaming puto bumbong ang niluluto ninyo?
Kami? Ngayon? 15 kilos. Masaya kami na mabili.
Nakakatuwang experience po ninyo?
Ung binabalikan kami. Iba raw yung puto bumbong namin. Syempre yun lang, matutuwa ka na dun. Tsaka sabi nila fresh yung aming niyog. Kinukudkod talaga namin gamit ang kamay (manual). Di kami gumagamit ng makina...Tsaka yung tsaa daw, iba ang lasa. Kapag ininom mo, talagang lumalasa.
Matagal na po kayo dito?
Oo, siguro mga nasa 10 or 12 years na rin. Matagal na, alam na nila andito kami.
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| Working until the sun sets. |
Ano po ang gusto ninyong sabihin sa mga tumatangkilik sa inyo, Nay Aida?
Salamat! Kasi, marami silang kumakain. Iba raw yung lasa nung puto bumbong dito eh. Ito raw pag kinain mo, lumalasa ang niyog at asukal. Hindi raw mahirap nguyain. Ito raw masarap at mura. Tsaka malinis. Bente pesos lang, kayang-kaya ng bulsa. Tara, kain na.
Maraming salamat po, Nanay Aida at Sir Melvin.
Would like to buy some puto bumbong? Aling Aida's Puto Bumbong can be found in Malinta Market, Valenzuela City. You may see their humble stall in Cuevas Bakery during the afternoon, around 3:30pm to 10:30pm.
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