This Ancient Filipino Smoked Fish Recipe Is Disappearing (Podpod)

On a small island in San Vicente, Eastern Samar, podpod is more than a smoked fish patty. It is livelihood, repetition, and sacrifice shaped by hand.

In this episode of 81 Provinces, we follow the mothers who boil, debone, pound, shape, and slowly smoke fish over coconut husks to create podpod, a traditional Waray delicacy born from coastal life and preservation. Long before refrigeration, podpod transformed fresh catch into food that could last. Today, it continues to sustain families in island communities where fishing income is uncertain.

For orders: https://www.facebook.com/rolando.orale.2025

Special thanks to:
Josephina Talon
Cristina Orale
Lita Evardona

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