Pangasinan town aims for world’s biggest rice cake record

A Google search showed that the existing biggest rice cake world record of 12 feet in diameter is currently being held by Mapo-Gu, South Korea, which it garnered during the 12th World Rice Food Festival on Oct. 7, 2007. (Photo: Mike Gonzalez/ Wikipedia)

CALASIAO, Pangasinan— Tourists are expected to flock to this town on Friday (December 8) when the municipal government attempts to break a world record by putting up a more than 200-square meter rice cake mosaic at the town plaza.

Melanio de Vera, who was designated by Mayor Arman Joseph Bauzon as chairman of the executive committee of this year’s “Puto Festival”, called on all the townsfolk to help the municipality of Calasiao put up the new world’s largest rice cake mosaic record in the Guinness World Records.

A Google search showed that the existing biggest rice cake world record of 12 feet in diameter is currently being held by Mapo-Gu, South Korea, which it garnered during the 12th World Rice Food Festival on Oct. 7, 2007.

More than 100 traditional “puto” makers of this town were mobilized this year by the Calasiao municipal government to prepare the world’s largest rice cake mosaic to be spread at the town plaza and to be served to the residents and guests who will attend the event after the official documentation has been made.

Representatives of the London-based Guinness World Records were invited to witness the record-breaking feat.

Calasiao, a first class town of Pangasinan seven kilometers away from Dagupan, has adopted “puto” as its One-Town, One Product (OTOP).

Dubbed as the “white gold of Calasiao”, the small, round rice cakes here have made the town famous all over the world and across the years.

“Puto” changed the lives of many local residents, especially of Barangay Dinalaoan, whose children finished their education through their rice cake earnings over the years.

The main ingredients for rice cake are ground rice and sugar or molasses.

Meanwhile, other activities as part of the Puto Festival include a parade, the search for Calasiao Festival King and Queen and variety and talent shows.