ROSQUILLOS: A CRISP TASTE TO EXPERIENCE

       Taking to the streets of Liloan (also spelled as Lilo-an)-a first class municipality in the Northern part of Cebu- one would easily notice a century-old brick-walled edifice, just a few meters from the town market, where a famed native delicacy mapped Liloan prestigiously in this so called ‘ culinary haven” , both locally and internationally.

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        If Carcar has sweet puffed rice cake (known as “ampao”), Mandaue City has also a rice cake (locally known as “bibingka”), well, Liloan has rosquillos- oozing with a sweet deluxe of luscious and aggrandizing taste plus its distinct aroma that will surely hooked your nostrils.

        Rosquillos- a ring shaped, flat, light-brown cookie with a circular hole in the middle (just like a doughnut) with a light sweet crisp and delicious taste- is the renowned delicacy in this municipality.

       So, who started making it? Here’s the story. The idea of this well-known Cebuano intricacy originated when the 21-year old Margarita “Na Titay” Frasco got bored one day in the year of 1907(  a year before the institution of UP) . With the use of her baking ingredients and other culinary stuffs, she started experimenting, thus, the soon to be called rosquillos came to life. Without knowing that her creation was of great importance and will took Liloan to a sudden plight in terms of native delicacies and boosts the town’s economy.

      The first ones who have tried her delightful culinary invention were her neighbors, whom she offered a piece of her nicely- created cookie as a freebie for every purchase of a bottle of soda.

       During the early years of its existence, it has no permanent name, and so, Governor Sergio Osmeña (later became President of the Philippines), baptized this cookie as “rosquillos”, in accordance to the Spanish word “rosca”, which means ringlet in English and also to the “rosquillos de vino” in Spain ( Spanish wine ring cookie ). However, it is important, though, to differentiate Rosquillos of Cebu from the Rosquillos de Vino of Spain. The former was thinner and crispier than the latter while the latter is merely an olive oil doughnut (which is like the shape of commercial doughnuts).

      Rosquillos’ basic ingredients are the following: (1) flour, (2) egg, (3) shortening, (4) sugar, (5) baking powder and (6) other condiments. Though the ingredients are somewhat over-the-counter, many people, including me, thought and hypothesize that there must be a secret ingredient or whatsoever, for rosquillos tastes so good, letting the diner, not only just to nibble a little bit of this crunch, but rather, to devour a dozen of it and still finding himself/herself craving for more.

       Titay’s Liloan Rosquillos Inc., who monopolized the making of this ringlet cookie for a long span of time, grow from a small baking business to a world-class pastry conglomerate, expanding their baked products to a vast variety ranging from native delicacies to modern pastries such as: (1) otap, (2) caycay, (3) galettas de bato, (4) binangkal, (5) polvoron, (6) peñato, (7) momay, (8) torta, (9) elorde, (10) bao-bao, (11) sliced bread, (12) torta and a lot more savory pastries that will surely chills your tongue, serving various costumers, not only domestically, but also in abroad.

      Though the Frascos are the sole makers of rosquillos in the past decades, but nowadays, various stores and even some bakeshops offered rosquillos as one of their food products. For example, in the town market, near to the entrance to the wet market, where vendors of native delicacies are rampant, one can buy a pack of home-made rosquillos containing 10-12 pieces of ringlets at P10.00. Another site for rosquillos fanatics is Posing Liloan Food Corner, situated near the municipal hall, directly opposite of Rolly’s Eatery and a barbershop in its side, this little store offers also various delicacies like: (1) binangkal, (2) otap, (3) chicharon, among others. Here you can buy a pack of rosquillos at P15.00( much higher in price but much bigger in pack compare to the one in the market).If a diner is lazy enough to explore streets and corners just to find out what stores sell rosquillos, then I suggest that he/she will wake up early in the morning and wait until a vendor with a bicycle-peddled basket will come along selling freshly-baked bread and some cookies. In this arena, one can buy the cheapest rosquillos at P5.00 per pack. Just an advice, they rarely pedaled rosquillos because it is patented. Also remember, the lower the price, the poor the quality.

       Even though some copycats have tried to imitate and make rosquillos on their own, they can just copy its physical attributes, but in terms of taste, no one can get ahead of Titay’s pioneered rosquillos. Titay’s pioneered rosquillos varied in price according to their sizes. The smallest pack which is approximately 30 grams costs P25.00 while the biggest one (in box) costs P272.00. Aside from the original light-colored rosquillos have, they also offer a variety, the brown rosquillos which the smallest pack costs at P36.00.

     As what explorecebu.com says, “For many Cebuanos, Liloan is even synonymous to Rosquillos. If Carcar has ampao and “itlog mo noy orange”, Liloan’s perennial pride has been the rosquillos.  Because of so much pride rosquillos gave to Liloan, the town created a festival in honor of Na Titay’s creation, the Rosquillos Festival. The municipality of Liloan passed Resolution Number 2008-103, proclaiming Rosquillos Festival as the official festival of the said town. It is held annually on the 29^th and 30^th of May, during the town fiesta, in honor of their patron saint, San Fernando Rey.

        People going to the northern part of Cebu usually have their stopover in Titay’s. Travelers-both local and foreign- buy native delicacies and other food stuffs for their snacks during their entire travel, while others for “pasalubong purposes”. Travelers always got captivated by the light sweet taste of Titay’s Rosquillos that sends a nice sensation to your tongue as you devour this special cookie. Nang Ana, a typical Filipino wife,say, “Magbalikan jud ko dinhe kay ang akong mga anak kinaham man ang rosquillos”.

       So, why does rosquillos flourished and stood up the different tastes of time? Well, there are several reasons why Rosquillos, despite its century-old history, continues to shine as one of the most popular native delicacy in Cebu. First, it is proven by the fact that Titay’s Rosquillos has no major competitor in terms of providing the costumers the rosquillos ecstacy. Second, obviously, because of its taste. As what my grandfather said, “lahi ra gyud ang  lasa sa rosquillos sa Titay’s, mas lami gyud sya ikumparar sa uban.”

            I remember, when I was just a kid, rosquillos is one my favorite snacks. Putting it inside my fingers, just like a gold ring, I always loved to nibble it and eat it up slowly so that the taste will remain in my mouth. Basically, its intricate design and good appearance succumbs a child’s appetite to finish it.

       Taking on the nutrition side, rosquillos is a main source of carbohydrates, because of the ingredients used. Other nutrients that are present in this magnificent culinary stuff are the following: (1) sodium, (2) potassium, (3) calcium, and (4) fiber.

         Because of its catered excellence, Titay’s rosquillos, as well as the persons who is responsible for the culinary success of Titay’s received awards and citations. According to titaysliloan.com, “Titay's has reaped awards for product excellence and entrepreneurial leadership. In 2007, Gerardo "Dodong Gamay" B. Frasco Jr., the heir currently running the business, received from the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industy the Countryside Enterprise of the Year Award. In 2005, Titay's was given the National Shoppers Choice Award for excellence in product quality, company reputation, brand recognition and customer service. In the same year, it was recognized for its best marketing practices leading towards marketing dominance, goodwill and high-level customer confidence and market acceptability. Titay's was included in the Hall of Fame in 2000 by the Philippine Grand Chamber Century Awards for pioneering and sustaining Foundation gave it the prestigious Perlas Award in 1998 for valuable entrepreneurship and family home industry. In 1982, it represented Cebu in the Philippines World Trade Exhibition.”

             Truly indeed, Rosquillos has reached its peak. Serving costumers all around the globe through Filipino stores on foreign nations, Titay’s Rosquillos is a God-given grace that each Liloanons should be proud of. To cap it all, Liloan is to rosquillos as rosquillos is to the whole culinary world!

Sources:

Industry Pioneer and Market Leader

http://titaysliloan.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1:welcome-to-joomla&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=28

Rosquillos Festival 

http://explorecebu.com/content/rosquillos-festival

 

Rosquillos Biscuit: Proudly Made in Cebu

http://dishes.philipinoy.com/rosquillos-biscuit/

Liloan, Cebu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liloan,_Cebu