Bingka is that rounded rice cake that is made from rice flour and coconut milk on a banana leaf popular in southern Philippines. The snack’s flavor resembles the savory bibingka of Cebu, and is also popular in Indonesia.

Travelling by road across Mindanao, we would often encounter bingka stalls in areas where rice and coconuts abound. If you travel from Davao to Butuan, the municipality of Nabunturan in Davao de Oro boasts an array of impressive bingka restaurants offering not only the snack but meals, clean restrooms and drinks to travelers between the Caraga and Davao regions.

Travelling from Davao to General Santos or Kidapawan, you pass by Mers, a popular restaurant known for its bingka, and other delicacies apart from the wonderful lunch fare. Often the batch of bingka made for the day runs out by late afternoon due to the high demand.

In the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan corridor, the municipality of Manticao and Lugait has its share of bingka stalls which encourage those making the long trek from Ozamis or Dipolog to Cagayan de Oro to stop and partake of the hot snack.

Truly, Mindanaos bingkas are not only road traveler’s comforting companion but are also an expression of ingenuity and innovation in making best use of the coconuts and rice grown in such locales. Perhaps a researcher can do a study to determine the impact the “bingka industry” brings in the demand of locally grown rice and coconut, and how many livelihoods are created out of making bingka-its value chain. I am sure we will get interesting numbers.

Thus, bingka teaches us is that many Filipnos bear a strong confidence and local pride in making a good product using local materials. This sense forms a springboard for localized innovation and further creativity that can expand opportunity.

A growing number of culinary artists, trained and hobby chefs and food technologists can apply their skills into the bingka, expanding its varieties and shelf life to create a stronger curiosity, and demand for a food item, and, in turn boost demand for locally grown raw materials, increasing local livelihoods in the process.

I look forward to more bingkas, or products that can inspire innovation in the near future from the implementation of the 2018 innovation law, which, incidentally, takes center stage as the National Economic Development Authority heads the national innovation council meeting.

As we continue in our recovery, innovation and productivity must be on the agenda of every leader to move us to upper middle income country status- a national goal that will lift the incomes of many Filipinos with the jobs and opportunities created for local producers.

Beyond agriculture and food, these innovations include expanded use of indigenous textiles based on pinya fiber, abaca, and even cacao leaves woven into lamp shades. These also include functional foods and supplements to boost our immunity. Innovative products from our forest and mineral resources can be innovated to produce higher value items like cement and steel and drive productivity and makes operations sustainable. When scaled up into the level of manufacturing, it creates jobs- especially in the countryside.

The morning rosary

I have taken up the prayer habit of reciting a rosary in the morning. This has enabled me to lift up my intentions, purify my actions and set the right priorities not only for the day and the coming week, but for the future. Most of all, it reinforces that each day belongs to God, not me and is subject to his plan, more than mine and any human control.