Budyawi

Bujawi (budjawi, budyawi) is what Ilonggos refer to the fruit of the buri or century palm tree. Abundant in many parts of the province of Iloilo, the buri has many many uses from the leaves to its trunk.

It produces a fermented drink (tuba), alcohol, vinegar, syrup, and sugar. The trunk yields large quantities of starch.



The bud (ubod) is used for salad or as a vegetable. The kernels of the young fruits are edible and are made into a sweetmeats. The mature seeds are used for beads? (rosaries) and buttons. 

The petiole yields so-called buntal fiber of which, the famous Baliuag and Lucban hats are made, or which, when crudely extracted, is sometimes twisted into rope.
Mature leaf is used for covering tobacco bales, rarely as a thatch for houses, while the ribs are used for making brooms.



From the unopened leaf is obtained a very fine fiber, corresponding to raffia fiber, which is utilized in making cloth, fancy articles, and as string. Fibers secured from the ribs of the unopened leaves are extensively used in the manufacture of the so-called Pototan hats. Strips of the unopened leaf are made into hats, mats, bags, sails, basket, and other articles. (Source)

Among the most interesting though is the "fruit". Boiled budjawi are sold (around PhP10 per cup) at the Iloilo Central Market but I had been unlucky everytime I went there since there wasn't even a single vendor selling them.



But good thing, there was this peddler in Molo Plaza that didn't only sell the usual native delicacies but also a plastic-ful of budyawi. When she called out her "wares" then and at the mention of budyawi, I almost jumped toward her to get them. She sold them for PhP15 plastic and I got three bags. The second photo from the top shows two plastics. 

To enjoy bujawi, just pop the boiled fruit to reveal its white and chewy contents. Its likes eating a tougher  or gummier version of sago or to some extent boiled corn. So when was the last time you had budyawi?