Showcase of Barter Goods in Tawi-Tawi
I chanced upon this barter goods in Panglima Sugala (formerly called municipality of Balimbing) when we were on our way back to Bongao town proper. I learned from a teacher there that barter is still being practiced. The photo reveals that barter goods are mostly vegetables and fruits. Notice how pink the kamotes are (placed in hand-woven baskets made out of leaves) and the marang carefully being transported in an improvised bag made of leaves. There’s also kalabasa and eggplant. Help me out guys, you know how to translate some of these veggies and fruits in English 
(i dunno what’s inside the sack..probably rice).
Hi Maej,
Kamote is sweet potato or yam, one of my favorites, is a very nutritious food. I prefer it to the yam that’s readily available here in the States.
Marang, I just found out, is also known as Johey Oak or Tarap. I used to be able to eat marang and jackfruit but, for some reason, I developed an allergy to them. Don’t know why? It’s a shame ‘coz I enjoyed them. (I blame the allergy on my husband who’s also allergic to them.)
Kalabasa is winter squash. I love that with shrimp, string beans & gata (coconut milk). Yumm! OK, you’re getting me hungry again…
Thanks for sharing
Hi Maej and Tina,
Let me share you the German version:
Kamote – is also available here in Germany but not as pink as shown above – they call it “süß Kartoffel” – we make ginataan out of it together with whatever available things we get in the market.
Kalabasa – version is in very bright yellow orange “pumpkin” they call it “Kürbis”. There are also Filipinos who grow Kalabasa in their gardens, so we can also have the same when the summer gives enough heat.
Talong – is also available but very round, not as yummy as what is shown above. They call it “Überginne”.
Marang – I am missing it. It grows a lot in my Fathers land. Germans does’nt know it.
Let me guess what’s inside the sack, if I am not mistaken, the left one contains “Kamanting ipit” a ribben pressed casava wrapped with banana leaves, the one we use for casava cake, suman and puto, do you know it? I don’t think it’s rice in the right sack, maybe peanuts? 0r mongo? Oh! how I love to look at the picture, memories is getting to be live. Thank you Maej, I am hungry.
Wow, thanks Tina and Iac! Its amazing at how each item is called differently in various places, isn’t it? Like my European friend would call a bag of chips “crisps”. The German translation sounds sexy (just kidding!). I still love the way it sounds in Pinoy ;-0
I’m getting hungry, too..