ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) passed a resolution declaring the district of La Paz as capital of the famous noodle soup batchoy.
Councilor Candice Magdalane Tupas, proponent of the resolution, said La Paz batchoy is a “great contribution” to Ilonggo pride and an added tourism come-on.
Batchoy is made with pork offal (liver, spleen, kidneys and heart), crushed pork cracklings, chicken stock, beef loin, and round noodles. Its origins can be traced to La Paz, hence it is often referred to as La Paz batchoy.
According to Tupas, batchoy is part of the Ilonggos’ “intangible cultural heritage” and declaring La Paz as the noodle’s capital would “preserve, protect and institutionalize” this heritage.
“It is the policy of the city to recognize, organize and provide support for tourism-related activities and programs to continuously sustain tourism growth,” read part of the resolution.
In making batchoy, oil is heated in a stock-pot first. The pork organs, shrimp, chicken and beef are stir-fried for about a minute. Soy sauce is then added, then the shrimp and left to simmer for a few minutes.
This broth is then added to a bowl of noodles and topped with leeks and pork cracklings (chicharon). Sometimes a raw or hardboiled egg is cracked on top./PN
