Streetdancing competition participants at the 1st Barquillos Festival in Barangay 34, Bacolod City

Kids enjoy eating barquillos

A village in Bacolod City held a fiesta on Saturday in a bid to establish itself as the pioneer of one of the country's favorite pastries - the "barquillos."

"Barquillos" is a delicacy in Negros Occidental made from thinly rolled flour, sugar, or powdered milk and shaped like hollow cigars. The pastry, which is of Spanish origin, is made by cooking thin wafers and rolling them while still hot, after which they are cooled until crisp.

Barangay 34 chairman Richard Sison said the village council passed a resolution to hold the festival once a year so that the people of Bacolod will know that "barquillos" was first introduced in the village during the 1940s. "Most barquillos vendors in the city today are also living here," Sison added.

The celebration was held with a streetdancing competition, where three neighboring areas participated. Dancers dressed in colorful costumes delighted spectators.

The fiesta's highlight, however, was when barangay officials gave out free "barquillos" to children and mothers as they watched the competition.

In the region, Iloilo is particularly known for its "barquillos", which have many varieties like pandan, ube, or chocolate flavors. Another variety is made with sweet powdered milk called the "baqueron."