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   Barkada’s Sinuglaw

            As soon as the clock strikes twelve noon, the whole school would rush to the canteen and anxiously fall in line, waiting to be served. According to my friends back in high school, the beast day to experience a great lunch is during Wednesday and Friday, when the canteen’s menu includes the school’s signature dish and the barkada’s all-time favorite, the Sinuglaw.

Sinuglaw is a famous Davao food. It originated from two different Filipino culinary processes; the “sugba” means to grill and “kinilaw” refers to raw fish cooked in vinegar. It is a unique fare of usual grilled pork liempo and the traditional Davao Kinilaw made from cubed meat of the Yellow Fin Tuna. In addition to the gastronomic delight are sliced cucumber and radish, minced unripe mango, several spices and a dash of soy sauce and siling labuyo, plus the extraordinary native vinegar, pinakurat suka!

Preparing Sinuglaw is just as easy as making a fresh green salad. Just toss all the dry ingredients: ginger, cucumber, radish, mango, onions and spices into a deep bowl. Mix it all together with the cubed tuna meat and add the wet ingredients: the soy sauce and vinegar until desired doneness of the fish. I would suggest that separate first the wet ingredients and the sauces in a container, as not to cook the tuna ahead.

The distinct taste of Sinuglaw is very oriental and Asian. Definitely, your palette will discover hints of native spices and exotic herbs and in contrast, the smoky savor of the sinugba complements the dish, plus its appetizing aroma. All perfect in a tropical ambience and peaceful mood similar to the picturesque view of the deep-blue Davao gulf and the panoramic sight of the country’s tallest mountain, with all its glory, the Mount Apo. 

I still remember how fun it was to eat together. We would connect five tables for the twelve of us magkakabarkada. I couldn’t forget, one time, Miss Alice, head of the cafeteria reprimanded us because of blocking the main aisle of the canteen. We would enjoy the smoky and exotic taste, while laughing boisterously and talk about anything, with a mouthful of Sinuglaw in our maws.

When all is said and done, we would bring out our extra bills and coins to buy “litro”, our particular term for a one-liter bottle soda, Coke. Then everyone would rush to the utensils rack and grab a glass, while somebody buys the litro.

Fridays and Wednesdays in high school was fun! Laughing and talking happily, enjoying the delectable Sinuglaw dish of the south. This is my memory: food memories of my high school days.