By Niña Calleja
Philippine Daily Inquirer
1:50 am | Sunday, October 16th, 2011
If the country's lowly buko juice can reach the US shore, why can't
Antipolo's "suman?"
Antipolo Mayor Nilo Leyble told the Inquirer on Friday the pleasant
prospect of exporting tons of suman—glutinous rice wrapped in coconut
frond leaves—to the US and European markets after joining
Chinese-Filipino businessmen and other government officials in trip to
Beijing, China.
According to him, exporter Philip Young wanted to invest in the local
delicacy which the city has been known of.
"He wanted us to produce two tons of suman every month. This would
obviously increase and stabilize the income of our suman makers," Leyble
said in a phone interview.
Leyble joined the delegation of businessmen and government officials
headed by Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan who attended a conference on
economic and social partnership on Sept. 22 to 29.
Excited
The mayor said the idea of suman being sold in the groceries in the US
and Europe excites the around 40 suman makers in the city who earn only
on weekends and Holy Week due to the influx of churchgoers.
Thousands of religious and Catholic devotees visit the National Shrine
of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage which houses the 385-year-old image
of the Virgin Mary. Suman makers usually make ends meet from the
earnings they get from the purchases of suman and other delicacies by
local and foreign tourists.
Leyble said the investor will send a technical team on Monday to meet
with the local makers and assess their production.
He said he had proposed the creation of a cooperative to ensure that the
products would meet the quality standards and other export requirements.
"We would also like to equally divide the work among local producers,"
he added.
Asked how perishable goods can be exported without being spoiled during
shipment, Leyble said the businessman knew what he was doing as he has
been exporting delicacies for several years.
"The packaging also has something to do with it," the mayor said.
Leyble, who had worked at a suman factory when he was a child to augment
his baon in school, said the suman export is a big boost to businesses
in Antipolo.
Rebecca de Leon, a 45-year-old suman maker, said she was delighted by
the plan for it would always mean additional income to her.
"We don't have to worry about the capital because somebody would finance
it," De Leon said.
She said her family had been in the business since 1970s and if the plan
is realized, this would be the first time her products would be exported.
"Minana ko na 'to sa nanay ko … Masaya kami na matitikman sa abroad ang
luto namin (I inherited this from my mother … We are happy that our
products may be served and consumed abroad)," she said.
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