At Manila Cookie Story Inc, we proudly bake cookies inspired by the rich flavors and culture of the Philippines. Our recipes are authentic and are enjoyed by loyal customers in the Philippines and visitors worldwide. However, when it comes to our new clients, they often have a ton of questions but find answers difficult to come by. 

Original Article Source Credits: Inside Manila, https://insidemanila.ph/

Article Written By: Inside Manila Contributor 

Original Article Posted on: 27th June 2019

Link to Original Article: https://insidemanila.ph/article/639/the-cookies-that-bring-philippine-culture-and-flavor-together

There are loads of cookies out there but very few tell of a bigger story. Manila Cookie Story’s beautiful and vibrant packaging is a feast for the eyes, but it’s more than just colorful tin cans and decorative boxes. Manila Cookie Story also tells a delicious narrative–the stories of Filipino pride and heritage. The sugar cookies itself are shaped like the sun, to represent the eight rays of the golden sun found on the Philippine flag. The cookies come in four different flavors: butter, coffee, chocolate, and queso de bola–flavors which are close to the hearts of Filipinos. The plain Butter cookies only…

Inabel is manually woven on hardwood looms using techniques passed down through generations. It is used to make placemats, runners, tablecloth and other products.

The Barong Tagalog, or simply barong, is a sheer embroidered shirt made from a variety of indigenous fabrics such as piña (pineapple silk). The barong is usually worn by men on formal occasions. Nowadays, less formal versions are made out of cotton and these garments are usually worn in the work place in place of business suits.

The Yakan fabric from Basilan is made of naturally dyed abaca and pineapple fibers. The weavers from the Yakan Tribe are known to be some of the finest weavers in the country.

The Gaddang women from one of the tribes in Northern Luzon weave cloth using thread that has been dyed in bright, natural colors. They traditionally wear this as a wrap-around skirt called tapis.

Banig is a handwoven mat made using a variety of indigenous materials such as buri, seagrass, tikog or pandan leaves. Mostly used as a mat to sleep or sit on, banig can also be used to make bags, wallets and boxes.

The T’nalak is a traditional cloth woven by the T’boli women of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. The weavers believe that the patterns they create on the T’nalak come from their dreams, hence they are sometimes called the “Dream Weavers”. 

The Giant Lantern Festival is held every December in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. The City has been nicknamed the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines” because of the popularity of the festival.

The Kaamulan Festival is held annually in Malayblay City, Bukidnon, from the second half of February to March 10. It celebrates the customs and traditions of the seven tribal groups that originally inhabited the Bukidnon region. March 10 also marks the anniversary of Bukidnon as a province.

The Dinagyang Festival is an annual religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City, Philippines, held on the fourth Sunday of January. It is held both to honor the Santo Nino (the Christ Child) and to celebrate the arrival of Malay settlers in Panay. 

On Christmas Eve, Christian Filipinos celebrate by getting together for a festive dinner called Noche Buena . The menu of the feast varies from family to family, but one staple of the Noche Buena is the Queso de Bola. This round ball of cheese covered in red wax is a special kind of Edam cheese. Filipinos enjoy eating this salty, hard cheese on its own, in sandwiches or grated over a delicious buttery pastry called ensaymada.

Philippine tsokolate comes in several forms including tablea or small chocolate tablets used to make hot chocolate. The Spaniards taught Filipinos the art of making hot chocolate or tsokolate: drop tablea into boiling water and beat the hot mixture over heat using a batirol (wooden whisk) to make the tsokolate frothy. If you use a lot of tablea, the result is tsokolate eh which is thicker and richer compared to tsokolate ah. For a more decadent hot chocolate, you can add sugar, milk or ground peanuts.

Many Filipinos jumpstart their day with a cup of coffee ( kape ). In some provinces, people pour freshly brewed coffee over steaming hot rice to make a delicious coffee porridge. Filipinos enjoy spending time at coffee shops to work, study or hang out with friends. Many of these establishments proudly make use of Philippine coffee blends. “Kapeng Barako”, a popular coffee in the Philippines, is known for its strong taste. “Barako” is a Filipino word for “manly” or “strong man”.

The Jeepney is known as the "King of the Road" in the Philippines. It is a colorful and uniquely embellished Public utility vehicle (PUV) that is a popular mode of transportation. Jeepneys embody the Filipino creativity and ingenuity. The first jeepneys were made out of army jeeps that were used by the American Military during WWII. Once onboard, Jeepney riders pass their payment (bayad) from hand to hand until it reaches the driver – a great example of Filipino community spirit or bayanihan.