Sayongsong: Surigao’s delicious native delicacy

Check out the sayongsong in Barangay Ipil, just near the pebble beach,

my longtime FB friend Jun, who I just met for the first time a few days ago when I went to Surigao City, told me when I asked him what are the delicacies in the city. The name, in itself, is already intriguing but for Surigaonons, refers to cone or tapered shape.

Whenever I do travel, checking the local delicacies is one of the must things to do. It is one way of getting to know more of the place and for Surigao City, the sayongsong, is said to be only found in the province, especially in Barangay Ipil near the famous and unusual pebble beach.

That’s why when I was in the vicinity, the van that took me to this barangay stopped at the curve and I went down. There are two stores selling this delicious delicacy, both just a stone’s throw from each other.

When I came up to the first store, there, on a beautiful woven native plate is a pile of sayongsong, its blue top glistening with a coat of oil, peeking from its wrap of blanched banana leaves. This is definitely a kind of rice cake, made from ground malagkit (sticky rice) that is cooked with gata (coco milk), milk and sugar. Lest it might be confused because of its color, ube (purple yam) is not included.

I was expecting a rice cake that is a bit hard or dry but taking a bite after unwrapping the banana leaf was heaven. It was very soft, not too sweet and not too bland. Just enough. A buttery texture and one that does not readily stick to the back of the teeth or palate.

The sayongsong is sold for just P5 a piece. Really cheap for such a delicious native delicacy. I was also told that in the municipality of Mainit, gateway to the sprawling Mainit Lake, is another version which has ground peanuts.