People in Bontoc, Mountain Province, Philippines are known to have strong bones. This is attributed to their indigenous bone builder food called “safeng” introduced by their old folks. However, this indigenous food was not given much attention by younger generation today because of the introduction of instant packed foods thus lost its popularity among household these days.

In 1970’s to the mid of 1980’s, Bontoc which is in the northern part of the Philippines is well known for this indigenous bone builder food “Safeng”. This is a kind of exotic drink made with the combination of their native fish, sticky rice, camote or casava, banana, the saba type, some type of seeds, and corn. The ingredients plus enough water are cooked in a clay pot and preserved in an earthen jar. Ingredients and preparation of this food varies though. Some may just add the recipes in a jar with spring water then cover it with a clean cloth till it ferments on its own for a week. Others have to cook it for a while to ferment. Preparation has to be done with sterile technique otherwise it will not ferment in a good way but be spoiled.

According to a local nutritionist, this indigenous food “safeng” is an excellent bone builder food because it is rich in calcium and other minerals.  Our bone is made mostly of calcium. However, other minerals from this drink play an important role in the manufacture of calcium in our bone. Old folks who consume a cup or 2 per day are observed to carry a ton of wood load on their shoulder and had no evidence of hunch back even if they reach old age.    

If only this indigenous bone builder food will gain back its popularity instead of the packed foods full of preservatives, younger people of today might also have stronger bones just like their old folks.