During our recent trip to Ilocos Norte (December 6-11, 2013), we had this rare experience of witnessing the catching of a giant, 18-inch gourami and eventually feasting on it.

This is in the farm in Solsona town of John Teodoro, general manager of the Ilocos Norte Water District.

Needless to say, the giant fish was cooked into a sumptuous sinigang. Of course, we could not finish the whole fish. A bigger part of it was reserved for a special serving for Gov. Imee Marcos the next day in the farm of Ilocos Mango King Ricardo Tolentino in Vintar town.

Watch for our special report in the Bulletin publications on our trip to the Solid North. We will also post shorter tidbits here in our blog, just like this giant gourami. Not many people in the Philippines know that the fish has been cultured in a few farms in Ilocos Norte. Unfortunately, it is not being grown commercially.