Tiwi’s famous halo-halo topped with grated cheese.

“Go to any place in the country and one is sure to find cheap streetside halo-halo.”It’s summer and the weather’s just too hot and humid. What better way than to cool the heat off with halo-halo? Go to any place within the country and one is sure to find streetside halo-halo in various forms with various ingredients. And these are very cheap compared with those found in malls and restaurants. Prices can range between P10 to just as high as P40 ($0.20 – $1) and one can already have a filling and enjoyable fare.

Tiwi in Albay is famous for its unique take on this native fare. Other than the usual ingredients of candied and sweetened fruits and preserves and an almost liquid leche flan, it is topped with grated cheese. Just imagine the opposing taste of sweet/salty and you have a one-of-a-kind halo-halo. When in town, just ask for directions to the street where a series of shops selling this fare can be found. It is just near the church.

Tabaco’s halo-halo is patterned after Tiwi

A few kilometers from Tiwi is Tabaco, also in Albay. Their halo-halo is patterned after Tiwi but not as delicious. No leche flan and the ingredients are fewer. Pair with empanada and it is filling too.

Lucban’s halo-halo is best with suman which is dunked into the glass and mixed.

Lucban in Quezon surely has one of the unique ways of eating halo-halo. After the Good Friday procession, the people usually troop to a small eatery just a few blocks from the church and have a cold snack. Other than the halo-halo, they also order a bundle of suman (native rice cake). One buy one, a suman is slowly opened, sliced into bite sized pieces and then dunked into the glass and is mixed with the cold dessert. The almost bland delicacy adds a unique texture.

Streetside Makati halo-halo in plastic cups

At the periphery of the country’s financial district where a series of residential apartments and houses (not the exclusive villages), almost every store a few meters apart from each other is selling halo-halo and fruit shake! Available usually in three sizes, the ingredients are just the same but one has to sample different kinds as the taste and quality are not the same.

Infanta’s simple halo-halo

In Infanta, Quezon, their halo-halo is nothing different. Just the usual and topped with a slice of leche flan. But it is satisfying just the same especially if paired with hot siopao or hamburger.

Romblon’s streetside turoturo’s halo-halo

In the town of Romblon just near the wharf are a series of eateries that also serve halo-halo. The ingredients are generous and just enough to cool off the summer heat. In the Cordilleras, like Banaue and Sagada, their halohalo has interesting ingredients: fresh fruits and elbow macaroni!

Estan Cabigas is a multiawarded blogger, freelance photographer and writer based in Makati City, the Philippines. A true blue Cebuano, he makes stunning images and meaningful photo stories. He has contributed to local and international publications including CNN Go, National Geographic Magazine, Geo (Germany), Sunday Times Magazine (London) and other publications.

To know more about him and his photography, visit estancabigas.com.