DAVAO ORIENTAL – Julius Manaungsong, a resident of Baganga, Davao Oriental, is preserving the tradition of cooking lut, a traditional Mandaya tribal dish prepared using cut bamboo, to the delight of locals.
Julius uses both pork and chicken for his lut, a dish characterized by the meticulous use of bamboo stalks. The meat is seasoned with salt and spices and placed inside the bamboo, surrounded by turmeric leaves. The cooking process takes approximately 30 minutes and is performed within an hour.
According to Julius, the timing is crucial as the lut must be cooked slowly over the open fire. The lut is considered well-cooked when the bamboo opens.
Julius learned to prepare this dish when he was just ten years old, taught by his grandmother. This traditional cooking practice is so important to him that he continues it to this day.
He stated, “What’s most important is that it’s a tradition we inherited from our ancestors. We’re keeping it alive to continue the tradition. The process is simple and doesn’t require any special equipment, especially during birthdays. What’s important is that we continue making lut.”
The size of the bamboo used affects the final lut. Julius mentioned that for every kilogram of meat, two bamboo sticks are required. This traditional dish, however, is a rare treat and only prepared on special occasions.
One of Julius’s secrets to creating delicious lut is adding ample spices to the meat, enhancing its flavor.
He emphasized, “It’s a source of pride. It’s one of the prides of Baganga to showcase our tradition. Every day in Baganga, you can see our tradition on display. People can see the dishes, whether it’s pork or chicken. One of the secrets in cooking lut is the generous use of spices. Adding more spices enhances the taste.”
Julius has passed down his knowledge of lut cooking to two of his children, hoping to keep this tradition alive for the generations to come.
