‘Dulang’ takes center stage in Eid Mubarak feast

A sample of “dulang” prepared by Hadja Suada Asnawie, wife of an MILF commander in Basilan. (Contributed Photo/ Hadja Suada Asnawie)

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Eid Mubarak, or Hari Raya Puasa, is about giving and forgiving.

Hadja Suada Asnawie, the wife of a Moro commander, Hadji Dan Asnawie, worked overtime to cook and prepare special delicacies, intended for a peace offering to her family members, relatives, neighbors, and friends.

As Ramadhan is about to end, Asnawie busied herself in producing about a hundred “dulang,” a mound of steamed rice covered with different halal chicken, beef, fish, crabs, and boiled eggs.

Dulang is also adorned with home baked baulo (mini muffins), jaa (lokot-lokot) and panyam (rice cake fried in deep oil).

Dulang is placed on a big platter, with each serving good for 6 to 8 people.

“We prepare dulang with full of love in our hearts,” Suada said, as the food is intended for people “whom we have had some misunderstanding or someone we had bad encounters or ill feelings in the past.”

Asnawie said they leave some for the family and those “who don’t have much in life (that) we are obliged to offer (food to).”

Hadji Dan Asnawie, commander of 114 Base Command, BIAF, MILF in Al Barka, Basilan, with wife Hadja Suada, with their dulang. (Contributed photo)

Asnawie’s husband is the commander of the 114th Base Command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) based in Al Barka, Basilan.

Her husband commands about 3,000 fighters.

“We dedicated a number of dulang to his men, we share it in the open court, so everyone can have a taste and share of whatever we prepared,” she revealed.

Before the sun went down today, Asnawie said: “we forget the animosities, we forgive everything, we kiss and embrace everyone and we start a new life for this Eid.” (Editor: Leti Z. Boniol)