Virac Public Market — Binamban, Latik & Pili

year-round (dawa seasonal Mar–Apr)

Catanduanes is the Philippines' most overlooked kakanin island: the Virac market anchors on binamban — deep-purple glutinous rice wrapped in blanched banana leaves, dense and sweet, the standard morning merienda with black coffee — alongside latik made here with malunggay extract and coconut milk (completely different from the Tagalog version), topped with caramelized coconut sauce. Chef Impling's Latik Delicacies sells at ₱30/piece at the Virac airport and RSL bus terminal. For pili, Belen's Pinahamis na Pili is the local brand — candied pili with more nuance than airport mass-market versions. Local's tip: if you visit March–April, ask specifically for dawa — a seasonal millet-based kakanin from the town of Bato that exists nowhere else and disappears by May.

Source: outoftownblog.com