The traditional craft of making “asin tibuok”, Bohol’s iconic artisanal sea salt, has been officially inscribed in the Unesco list of intangible cultural heritage needing urgent protection.
The announcement was made on Dec 9 during the 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in New Delhi, India – a major cultural milestone for both Bohol and the Philippines.
The Unesco inscription recognises the centuries-old, labour-intensive process behind asin tibuok, which involves filtering seawater through the ashes of burned coconut husks before it is fired for hours in a clay pot.
The process yields a distinctive, rock-shaped salt with a smoky aroma and deep, earthy flavour, highly prized by chefs, home cooks and culinary enthusiasts.
Heritage advocates and cultural workers have long campaigned for the protection of the craft, which is now practiced by only a handful of families in Alburquerque.
“We, the Boholanos ourselves, must be the first to protect this precious heritage. The immense sacrifice and hard work that go into making asin tibuok must be passed on to future generations, ensuring that both the tradition and the livelihood of our people are preserved,” Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado said during the occasion. — Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
