Pangasinan town’s rice cake lands in Guinness

CALASIAO, Pangasinan, Philippines — This town succeeded in its bid to land in the Guinness World Records for having the largest puto or rice cake mosaic.

On Dec. 7 last year, residents managed to create a 209.37-square meter mosaic with an image of a man feeding his grandson the popular rice cake from the town.

A total of 320,000 pieces of rice cake were bought from the town’s makers to come up with the mosaic.

In a Facebook post on Dec. 17, Mayor Arman Joseph Bauzon confirmed the feat and congratulated Pinablin Calasiaoeños for the world record.

Bauzon made the official announcement on the last day of this year’s Puto Festival, where a street party was held on Dec. 18.

Calasiao broke the world record that was set in Fukushima, Japan on Aug. 4, 2012.

“The world record (for this category) is now owned by the municipality of Calasiao,” Bauzon said.

Bauzon said the process was tedious and their attempt was carefully verified by the prestigious body that awards world feats, so it took a year before the world recognition was released.

The Puto Festival is held here annually as thanksgiving for the blessings brought by this bit-sized, soft and white product to the town and its people.

The local government here under then mayor Roy Macanlalay formed rice cake vendors and producers into a cooperative and provided them with stalls in front of the town plaza where they sold their products on a 24-hour basis.

“Our lowly puto has come a long way,” Macanlalay said, adding that many are provided with livelihood because of it.

The tradition of rice cakes here originated in Barangay Dinalaoan and spread through Lumbang and Ambuetel. It is made of semi-glutinous rice and white sugar.

Some hotels and popular restaurants not only in Pangasinan but also in Metro Manila get their rice cake supply here.

Rufo dela Cruz and his wife Leonora of Barangay Dinalaoan started selling rice cake they make daily at a stall near the shrine of the Señor Divino Tesoro and near the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church here with the name Bella’s Puto, the name of their eldest child.

Bella’s Puto has grown and has won many awards. Dela Cruz joins trade fairs in big malls and other festivals in many parts of the country, including Metro Manila, to market their products.