Tupig is made of glutinous rice known in Iluko as diket. With sugar, the milled diket is flavored with semi-pulverized peanuts and corn or any desired flavor, and wrapped in banana or coconut leaves. It is then grilled for at least five minutes.
A kilo of flavored diket can produce at least 100 pieces of banana or coconut leaf-wrapped tupig, one of the Ilocanos’ favorite delicacies.
Councilor Regie Valino-Valdez, who chairs the municipal tourism council, said at least 10 tupig flavors will be unveiled during the town’s fiesta celebration in May.
More than a year ago, neighboring Isabela unveiled what it billed as the world’s biggest armchair. — Charlie Lagasca