Mandaue's attempt at "biggest bibingka" record

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City government has allotted P500,000 for the first ever presentation of the biggest “bibingka” in the city, an attempt to enter the Guiness Book Of Records. “Bibingka” is a kind of bread, which is acknowledged as the city’s most popular delicacy.

But the budget has been reduced after some businessmen in the city offered to pay for most of the ingredients that will be used on Tuesday. The baking would be done at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Center.

City Tourism Officer Louella Cabanero said the main ingredient, which is rice, has been donated by three known rice traders in the city, while San Miguel Corporation has donated an improvised oven to be used in the cooking.

Another businessman has offered to shoulder the cost of the sugar, while the Department of Education, which would join in the affair, would supply other materials.

International Pharmaceutical Inc and Ginebra San Miguel have also pledged to donate a few things, while the charcoal would come from some barangays.

What the city just needs to buy are the 13,500 coconuts whose milk would be mixed with 3,050 kilos of rice, and 60 kilos of sugar.

The finished product is expected to cover a basketball court.

Cabanero said in case the city couldn’t come up with 13,500 coconuts, a firm that processes coconut milk would come in to deliver whatever is necessary to meet the goal.

She said that starting Monday, the city would start looking for coconuts from different towns in the province.

Although the food preparation will commence in the afternoon of Monday, the presentation will be done Tuesday, which on the same day residents can sample it.

Aside from students, the Mayol family, known as the best “bibingka” makers of the city, would take part in the baking. (FREEMAN)