Gilik-Free Tilapia in Paete's Wawa Park

Black Saturday, a the day after prices of seafood skyrocket when Tutubi woke up early and hied off to Wawa Park on the lakeshore of Paete, Laguna to see for himself the effect of El Niño phenomenon on the once submerged park by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng

He was surprised to see the once large bay where he used to swim in his childhood days is now almost dry with grass and weeds growing instead of floating bamboo and parked boats.

The effects of El Niño is highly visible on the almost dried up portion of Laguna de Bay. This area used to be a huge bay where boats park

The people are back and so are the businessmen like this taho vendor


From the park is also the landing area or port of all bancas unloading their catch from fish cages usually tilapia, shrimps and ayungin.

a tanned fisherman unloads his catch of tilapia from his banca


From the fisherman, Tutubi was offered large tilapia (pla-pla) each weighting more than a kilo each for mere P60/kilo that he immediately seized. He had the two large fishes tied instead of cleaned on the site to keep them alive for a longer time

two large pla-pla with total weight of 2.3 kilograms for a cheap price of P120 only

the two pla-pla still alive on the kitchen sink

inihaw na tilapia (grilled tilapia)

Note that at P60/kilo, is already cheaper than those bought at the public market but the bigger than the usual size of the tilapia can easily fetch a much higher price at the palengke.

On gilik, called liya in Paete, it is the muddy taste of fishes caught/raised in Laguna de Bay caused by certain algae present on certain seasons. Once the algae are ingested by the fishes like tilapia and bangus (milkfish), the fishes themselves will get the smell and taste of gilik. When buying fish, try to smell them particularly the gills for such obnoxious soiled/muddy smell before buying. Some unscrupulous fish vendors will try to hide the smell of gilik by removing the gills early to avoid detection but the trained nose can catch the scent and thus avoid being sold fish with gilik "flavor."

If you're looking for places to buy fresh seafood, try to buy them where the fishermen unload their catch for the freshest, cheapest seafood you can get.