Rice is nice

Rice is probably the staple food in the Philippines. They love it, breakfast, dinner, or tea if rice is on the menu chances are you will see a happy Philippino.

Just on the way out of Moalboal, there is a small area of rice paddy but this is just a drop in the ocean as far as the Philipines goes.

Not many people are aware it is the 9th largest rice producer in the world with over 4 million hectares given over to rice production, with the Rice terraces in Cordilleras being world-famous and a UNESCO world heritage site. Unfortunately, it's still not totally self-sufficient and most of the imports tend to be the cheap rice from China or Thailand which drives down the price of local farmers who are already struggling.

There are hundreds of local varieties with Milagrosa Sinandomeng Wag-Wag being some of the more popular mind you I have yet to find one that makes a good risotto so I'm stuck with buying imported Italian Arborio rice.

If any of you Phillipino Hivers out there have any suggestions for good local risotto rice I'm all ears.