In the vibrant heart of the Dumaguete public market, amidst the colorful chaos of vendors and shoppers, I stumbled upon a scene that piqued my curiosity and led me into the fascinating world of quail eggs.
Nestled on a spot of the pavement, a man meticulously sorted quail eggs from plastic boxes into egg trays specifically designed for these diminutive delicacies. Each tray, I discovered, was crafted to cradle exactly 100 of these tiny treasures, a testament to the precision and care involved in handling them.
What caught my attention even more was the familiar face of the man performing this task. I recalled seeing him before, during a previous visit when I documented the unloading of imported fruits from a truck.Little did I know then, these seemingly ordinary egg trays held a special significance in the intricate world of quail egg distribution.
Curiosity led me to strike up a conversation with the man who delivered the quail eggs, and I soon found myself engrossed in the story behind these humble eggs. It turned out that he was part of a weekly ritual, where he journeyed to Dumaguete with a substantial delivery of quail eggs. These 3,500 eggs, meticulously repacked into the specially designed cartons, were destined for the bustling city of Bacolod.
As I delved deeper into conversation, I learned more about the intricate workings of his operation. He shared with me that he owned and operated a farm boasting around 4,000 quails, whose daily efforts yielded approximately 3,500 eggs. The sheer scale of this operation was both impressive and humbling, offering a glimpse into the dedication and hard work required to sustain such a venture.
What struck me most about this encounter was the quiet dedication of this man and his unseen role in the intricate web of food distribution. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the market, he labored diligently, ensuring that these tiny eggs reached their destination with care and precision.
In a world where the origins of our food are often obscured by convenience and efficiency, moments like these serve as a reminder of the stories that lie behind each bite we take. As I left the market that day, I couldn’t help but marvel at the humble quail egg and the extraordinary journey it undertakes before finding its place on our plates.
SIGHTS OF NEGROS – BLOG – A Quail Tale: Behind the Scenes at the Dumaguete Public Market
