Calamay- a candy? Or a cake?

[pioneer]

By Joe Espiritu
Columnist
Bohol Sunday Post

Calamay is a delicacy, which the Jagnaanon claim to invent. Although other versions of calamay are found over the rest of the country, the Jagna calamay has already established itself in the taste of Southern Boholanos . It is a pasalubong item for those who had acquired a taste for it. Calamay is a thriving household industry that had financed the studies of most young Jagna professionals particularly seamen. Therefore the calamay industry s sought to be standardized by the Jagna LGU.

Calamay is a sweet, too bulky to be classified candy, too soft to be considered cake. It is made up of glutinous rice flour, cooked in coconut milk and sugar over a slow fire. Constant stirring until it is done assures its uniform consistency. It is then packed in a polished and sterilized coconut shell and a red crepe ribbon overlies the joint seal. It could be eaten as is or made into a sandwich filling. With improved shelf life, it could be transported to any part of the world.

Competition from Albur compelled the Jagna calamay makers to improve their quality. While other places sell their calamay only half full, Jagna vendors fill up every space in the coconut package. Some introduced coarse ground roasted peanuts as flavor enhancers. To keep the quality of their wares, those in the calamay industry formed an association called the Jagna Calamay Makers and Vendors Association. They set rigid product standards. The seal, which carries the name of the maker placed on the eye â€" the softest part of the coconut shell â€" is registered with the association.

Wardens of the association oftentimes conduct spot checks on the calamay sold. From time to time, they ask a vendor to open the calamay. Those who do not fit the standard are not allowed to use the seal, which was approved by the association. Furthermore, the violator is not allowed to display her wares along with those who had passed the test. She might conduct her business somewhere else but not on the choice spots claimed by the association.

Calamay vendors are either ambulant or stationary. There are those who chase buses or hawk their wares at bus or car windows. The swiftest and most alert catch the attention of the prospective e buyers. Boys and men compose this category. The stationary ones just display their goods on roadside tables. Those whose reputations had been established do not have to participate in the chase. They let the buyers come to them. One of the best examples is the Madera calamay of Canupao. Cars and busses stop to buy at the store.

Because to their reputation, the Jagna LGU tried to make the calamay acceptable worldwide not only by Southern Bohol expats. First, manufacturing is to be regulated. Calamay is to be made under sanitary conditions. If possible the product had to pass the Bureau of Food and Drug Administration standards. Then the calamay vendors are to stay in one place designated by the municipality. No more chasing of vehicles.

The association accepted the idea but most members resented the interference as they call it. In the first place, they were doing well under the previous conditions. Why rock the boat? They do not know that the municipal authorities are trying to help them. Let us say that because the industry promises lucrative returns, everybody would want to get into the act. Newcomers, unlike the established one, usually do not have the proprietary interest of their product. They are those who bring the hard earned reputation down. They are just only there during high demand.

If the municipal authorities think that a calamay cooperative can be formed so a centralized factory can be established with stainless steel vats, coconut shredders and grinders funded with government loans, they will have to perish the thought. Calamay vendors or any group of Jagna vendors are too fractious, too contentious and too individualistic to be grouped together. However, calamay industry has to be regulated or monitored on one way or another so the Jagna calamay will not lose its standing in the market vis a vis competition from other towns.

[udtohan]

dili man ko kaayo ganahan sa kalamay...for me mas lami ang binagol sa leyte.
maskin bitaw mga foreigner dili man ganahan og kalamay...maglain daw ilang tiyan.

[Happy]

lami ang kalamay basta dili kanunay, kanang talagsa ra makakaon.

[hazel]

dili man ko kaayo ganahan sa kalamay...for me mas lami ang binagol sa leyte.
maskin bitaw mga foreigner dili man ganahan og kalamay...maglain daw ilang tiyan.

lami man nang kalamay oi...leo, ganahan ka ang imong kalamay bayluan naku ug binagol pohon?

[slackware]

kanang kalamay, biko raman na pero pino lang!

[Happy]

lami man nang kalamay oi...leo, ganahan ka ang imong kalamay bayluan naku ug binagol pohon?

Kanang binagol pareho sab na sa kalamay? Unsa man kalahian ana?

[lumine]

dili man ko kaayo ganahan sa kalamay...for me mas lami ang binagol sa leyte.
maskin bitaw mga foreigner dili man ganahan og kalamay...maglain daw ilang tiyan.

lami btaw nang binagol sa leyte, pro ganahan sad gihapon ko ug kalamay,hehe!

[hazel]

hahahaha maka hinumdum lang ko aning storya sa calamay...Kadtong nag trabaho pako sa una sa cebu, unya ang akong duha ka office mates akong gi-tour sa bohol. Pag uli namo, nag via Tubigon. Tungod lagi nga walay ticket niapil sa dout sa tawo aron maka sakay sa barko...ang amo intawng gipamalit nga kalamay nangaligid. maayo nalang kay ang among usa ka kauban didto pa sa ubos, mao ra pu'y namunit. Pero ang uban wa gyud masalbar, lain gyud ang namunit.

Kanang binagol pareho sab na sa kalamay? Unsa man kalahian ana?

binagol is made of gabi unya naay latik sa tunga...nga gibuhat gihapon sa gabi.

[Barbaro]

dili man ko kaayo ganahan sa kalamay...for me mas lami ang binagol sa leyte.
maskin bitaw mga foreigner dili man ganahan og kalamay...maglain daw ilang tiyan.

ok raman sya kan-on pero dili lang kanunayon kay murag maka bidli sya at madali kang pol-an... kananag binagol maoy wala ko kaitaw ana dah. ehmm .NO EARTH intawn..

[Happy]

binagol is made of gabi unya naay latik sa tunga...nga gibuhat gihapon sa gabi.

wala pako katilaw anang binagol, patilawa unya ko ana.. dad-e nya ko unya balik nimo kung makauli ka next year 

[hazel]

wala pako katilaw anang binagol, patilawa unya ko ana.. dad-e nya ko unya balik nimo kung makauli ka next year 

sure cel! baska maka lusot lang sa immigration...

[Happy]

pusta lang sa imo sinina 

[orChids]

Ganahan jod ko ug kalamay......... ,panghatag mo beh?

[C2H4]

Ganahan jud ko'g Kalamay, lami i-pares sa sliced bread.

Pero favorite jud nko nang Moron sa Leyte. yum yum yum.

[ms da binsi]

Re: Calamay - a candy? Or a cake?

i think calamay is a Jam...

[grazie7y]

hehehe sweet rice and coconut jam, da binsi!

I like kalamay too especially gikan sa Can-upao. Wala pa pod ko katilaw anang binagol.  Mura'g lami lagi na dah!

Naka try namo sa kulangot didto sa Zambales ba to?  Gagmatoy kaayo na coconut or whatever palm shells (unsa ba to oi) unya naay kalamay the size of kulangot na kon imo pod kaunon, mura pod ka nangulangot.  sorry guys, tinuod bya ni wala ko nag bugal2x! hehehe

[smiffytheninja]

Whatever we classify calamay as, it's really good! But it's a pain when it sticks to the top of your mouth or in between your teeth... 

[lumine]

Whatever we classify calamay as, it's really good! But it's a pain when it sticks to the top of your mouth or in between your teeth... 

exactly, dear cousin!

[grazie7y]

and who is your cousin here Men?

[hazel]

Re: Calamay - a candy? Or a cake?

i think calamay is a Jam...

so ang answer, none of the above?

[grazie7y]

da bins, it a sweet and coconut jam lagi! heheheh

[grazie7y]

Whatever we classify calamay as, it's really good! But it's a pain when it sticks to the top of your mouth or in between your teeth... 

Oh, hello Babe!  Thanks for joining the community of your other half of the half and half! hahahha lots of half!

TB friends, smiffytheninja is a big fan of pinoy delicacies.  She particularly likes halo-halo, pan de sal, peanuts cooked the Pinoy way, and a lot more!  She will rush to get a cart whenever we go to the Pinoy stores.

[smiffytheninja]

Oh, hello Babe!  Thanks for joining the community of your other half of the half and half! hahahha lots of half!

TB friends, smiffytheninja is a big fan of pinoy delicacies.  She particularly likes halo-halo, pan de sal, <b>peanuts cooked the Pinoy way</b>, and a lot more!  She will rush to get a cart whenever we go to the Pinoy stores.

Too bad you eat the whole garlic peanuts container every time I offer it to you haha  joke-joke lang.

[ms da binsi]

i like that too smiff...

im not surprised ate Grazz ate it all! hahahahhaha

[grazie7y]

I am nuts about nuts, da binsi!

Babe, I know you bought the nuts for me.  You were teasing me with it lying in the counter untouched so I appreciated the nuts by eating all of it!

[hazel]

I am nuts about nuts, da binsi!

Babe, I know you bought the nuts for me.  You were teasing me with it lying in the counter untouched so I appreciated the nuts by eating all of it!

Graz, watch out! Ang uric...mao diay arthritison ka. hahaha

Ako hangol kaayo ko pistachio nuts pero karonm kutob nalang ko sa tan-aw.

[ms da binsi]

tanan nga nuts? are nutty to our jointzz???

ha tan-aw nalang ta tanan ani?

[hazel]

all kinds of nuts gyud will make our joints go nuts.

ingon ako doc, pinaka taas ug uric ang pistachio.

[grazie7y]

kalami sa pistachio nuts Haze unja tan awon lang? 

lagi, hinay-hinay na oi pero mangawat gud panagsa.  Unya taud2x while watching jeopardy, mag crack man ko pecan nuts for my cookies. Gitagaan ko sa among silingan ug tunga'g sako na pecan nuts unya naa pa jud koy usa ka taro from 3 years ago from the yard kadtong nag rent pa mi ug balay.

[kiamoy]

ganina ra ko naka realize.. mas lami-an ko sa calamay than binagol..

[B:)]

lami bitaw ang calamay basta dili lang kanunay (rhyme man jud ).

Ethyl, ako pod ganahan ko sa ilang Moron sa Leyte, dili kaayo ko sa binagol.

Gi tour mi sa among friend didto sa Can-opaw sa balay nga nag gama ug calamay, sus kapoya di ay ana himo oi, pero worth it kay lami man. Makadako gyud ug bukton.

[hazel]

ganina ra ko naka realize.. mas lami-an ko sa calamay than binagol..

sure ka?

[kiamoy]

yes te im sure! cause jen brought binagol from tac.. isa rako ka kutsara.. when she brought calamay from bohol, nag baon pa gani ko dre sa office.. i like it's stickiness.. ehehe lami pud palaman

[hazel]

Tingali kay wa man ka maanad. I prefer the binagol. hahaha

[kiamoy]

tam-is kaayu ang binagol.. ang naa na peanut na binagol?

[hazel]

maski unsa. hehehe

[mochajava]

candy:)

[kiamoy]

ahaha! java.. calamay imo or bingaol?

[mochajava]

wala!
java aqn.teehee