Manila: In the coastal village of Ablan in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, a seasonal seaweed called “gamet” is making the gastronomic experience in the province more exciting.
According to Philippines News Agency, Remedios Baniaga, who runs a refreshment stall in the Burgos public plaza, said one of her bestsellers is the gamet empanada. Priced at PHP150 each, the gamet empanada has become a favorite among tourists who have started flocking to Ilocos Norte after the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. “We are grateful to the Department of Tourism for inviting more tourists and helping us promote our native cuisine, including our gamet empanada,” Baniaga shared. On good days, she could earn an average of PHP5,000 from gamet empanada sales.
Gamet supplier Aidalyn Managad, 49, expressed that she was able to send her children to school by gathering gamet. The seaweed, due to its dark color, is comparable to Japanese nori and is referred to as the “black gold” in Ilocos Norte. Managad noted that gathering gamet is a challenging task, as it involves risking their lives to collect it. The seaweed commands a high market price because of its versatility as a food ingredient. When dried, a square-foot-sized gamet is priced at an average of PHP1,500.
From November to April, seaweed pickers brave the cold breeze and strong waves to gather gamet from sharp and slippery coral stones along the Burgos town coastline. Ilocanos often use it in salads, soups, and omelet dishes. Rich in iodine, calcium, iron, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, and essential vitamins, gamet is a popular purchase among “balikbayans” or vacationing overseas Filipinos and tourists who buy it as gifts or “pasalubong” for friends and relatives abroad.
For the town of Burgos, the thriving gamet industry has become an integral part of the rich culture and tradition of the coastal community, as it continues to uplift their living conditions and the local economy. Although gamet gathering is considered risky, seaweed gatherers believe it is worth the effort, as it has helped produce more professionals in the village.
