7th Mangan Taku Festival: Balbalan’s ‘KINUPI’ wins first place in Community-Based Cookfest

Balbalan, Kalinga – Balbalan’s flavorful and appetizing “kinupi” dominated the Community-Based Cookfest of the 7th Mangan Taku Festival in Baguio City, securing first place among the local cuisines featured in the competition held from April 23 to 27, 2026.

Kinupi is a traditional packed meal from Balbalan wrapped in banana leaves. During the competition, the town’s entry featured “tinapaan (inasasut)” or smoked meat from The Villager of Barangay Dao-angan; “unoy” rice; “binungol,” a native spicy and savory dish composed of bamboo shoots, shells, sili, dried patani, dried ugadiw, and dried apunit; “fuf od” or fermented rice from Balbalasang; and “niludog,” a preserved dish made from coconut milk and spices, from Tawang.

The award-winning kinupi was prepared by Freda Lanipao and Veronica Caliboso of Balantoy, who both joined the competition for the first time.

Apart from winning the Cookfest, Balbalan, together with Pasil, also earned the Special Award for Best Presenter after delivering a one-hour showcase featuring cooking demonstrations and cultural presentations during the event.

We did not expect to win...

In an interview, Lanipao shared that they did not expect to win, saying that her only goal was to represent Balbalan and showcase its native delicacies at the Mangan Taku Festival.

“Ang sasarap daw ng lahat sabi ng mga board of judges. And siyempre, our main course is the finungol with dried aponet, dried ogadiw, and the finasal of cherry tomatoes and spring onion. I don’t even know what’s with that finasal but the judges were so amazed. It broke their impression that Kalinga food is just vegetables mixed together [nilanao],” she recalled.

Following their feat, Lanipao expressed her gratitude to Mayor Almar Malannag for his support and to Municipal Tourism Officer Regine Faye Munda Cruz, who guided the team throughout the journey.

Success through collaborative effort

Meanwhile, Munda Cruz said that Balbalan’s successful participation in the event was the result of the collective efforts of the municipal LGU headed by Mayor Malannag and Vice Mayor Regina Munda Cruz, along with the various communities in Balbalan. She noted that local leaders personally took time to support the participants in Baguio City, which further boosted their morale.

The Municipal Tourism Officer also recounted the challenges they encountered during the Provincial Hour segment, where they were tasked to present a one-hour showcase. She admitted that they were unprepared, prompting the team to improvise an on-the-spot performance.

Lanipao demonstrated the “inatata” wrapping technique for the food demo,

Hon. Arnel Banasan performed his original songs, while Balbalan youth completed the presentation through cultural performances. Munda Cruz herself also improvised as host to ensure a smooth flow of the program.

Despite having to put together a one-hour presentation without prior preparation, the Province of Kalinga still earned the “Best Presenter” award.

“Without all of them, the recent participation of the Province of Kalinga through the Municipality of Balbalan would not have been this meaningful, fruitful, and successful. Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat for bringing pride and honor to Balbalan and Kalinga,” Munda Cruz expressed.