balaigang

English: Translation

lipote; Philippine wild berry tree and its fruit

English: Definition

A wild Philippine fruit tree, native to the forests of Bicol, and its small, round fruit. The fruit is about 20 mm across and ripens from dark red or purple to nearly black. It has a fragrant, mildly sweet-and-sour taste. ••• The tree may grow nine meters or taller. Its fruit is eaten fresh, often with salt, and may also be made into wine, pickles, or jelly. Its juice produces a deep red color resembling red wine.

Part of Speech

noun

Scientific Name

Syzygium curranii

Notes

Semantic domain: Plants • Trees • Wild fruits

Regional equivalents:
Bicol: igot; lipote; bahag; malu’gang; amhi’

Usage note:
Among older Boie’nen speakers, balaigang refers specifically to the wild, round forest fruit Syzygium curranii. It should not be confused with lomboy ‘duhat’ (Syzygium cumini), an introduced and commonly cultivated species whose fruit is larger and oblong.

Distinct from:
lomboy — duhat; Java plum (Syzygium cumini). Its fruit is oblong, usually sweeter at first, and strongly astringent afterward.

Encyclopedic note:
Balaigang represents an indigenous forest-fruit tradition in Buhi and the wider Bicol region. Unlike the market-associated lomboy, it is remembered as a wild tree whose fragrant fruit was gathered locally and eaten or preserved in several ways.

Verses:

BALAIGANG

Balaigang
Inasnan
Dangan sa
Dowang
Pinggan
LINOROLO’GO!
Santangsiram!
———•———

BALAIGANG

Balaigang—
salted,
then between
two dinner plates,
ROLLED AND TOSSED ABOUT! —
oh, how delicious!
———•———

Boie'nen (Old Buhi Language)

balaigang