The indigenous sour and steamy taste of a recipe entry of Ms. Merrcedita Abe and Leila Delos Santos of Antipolo City garnered the 1st place in the NNC Regional Recipe Development Contest of National Nutrition Council Region IV held last April 26, 2012 at Quirino Memorial Medical Center Covered Court. Sinigang na Dalag sa Alibangbang, a version of a popular Filipino dish – Sinigang gained a 91.67 percentage score from the judges because of its original, unique and twisting sour taste made by an uncommon vegetable called “alibangbang.” Ms. Abe and Delos Santos brought home a cash prize of Php 10,000 and a certificate of recognition.

Second place was the “MaKaFiSi Balls” of Ms. Julie Bayugo and Emy Jamosale who are also from Antipolo City. The MaKaFiSi Balls which was described as a “child-friendly vegetable dish” garnered a percentage score of 91% and took home Php 8,000 and a certificate of recognition. Meanwhile, the “Vegetable Medley” by Gian Carla Fernandez and Arlene Esteves, from the Provincial Nutrition Office of Laguna landed on the 3rd spot with a percentage score of 88%. They received Php 6,000 and a certificate of recognition.

Consolation prize of Php 2,000 and a certificate of participation were given to: “P Noy Tsap Suy,” by Susan Gareza and Editha Java of San Mateo, Rizal; “Pako Omellete over Kalabasa and Kamote Croquette with Teriyaki Sauce” by Ms. Azenith A. Ramos and Mr. Rizalvy Ramos of Lucena City; and “Sweet and Spicy Talong” by Ms. Elizabeth Viernes and Minerva Toldoya of Dasmariñas City.

Judges of the recipe development contest were Ms. Cynthia M. del Rio, Nutritionist-Dietitian IV of DOH-Center for Health Development IV-B; Ms. Josefina T. Gonzales, Science Research Specialist II of DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute; and Ms. Milagrina V. Jacinto, Chief Dietitian of Quirino Memorial Medical Center.

Criteria for judging include: palatability or taste (25%), use of nutritious ingredients (25%), originality (20%), visual appeal (15%) and ease of preparation (15%).

All six recipes will be submitted to the National Nutrition Council and will be compiled into a recipe book which will be printed and distributed to the beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilya program. This is National Nutrition Council’s way of contributing for the improvement of the nutritional status of poorest families in the Philippines.

The Regional Recipe Development Contest is also an activity of the National Nutrition Council in connection with the 2012 Nutrition Month Celebration with the theme, “Pagkain ng gulay ugaliin, araw-araw itong ihain!”