Satti is one of the city’s most popular delicacies. It is reminiscent of the Malaysian and Indonesian Satay that comprise of skewered meat (usually beef, chicken, and chicken liver) grilled and eaten with a variation of dips. The Satti found in Zamboanga is unique, however, because the meat is served with sticky rice wrapped in coconut leaves in a bowl full of flavorful, spicy, orange sauce.

I remember my first encounter with the dish when I was in grade school. During recess, one of my classmates dared me to order Satti. At first, I was a little hesitant to try it because I wasn’t so fond of spicy food then. My friend was able to convince me to try it, though, and together, we braved eating the spicy dish. Even though our heads steamed and our tongues burned as we spooned mouthfuls of rice, meat, and sauce, we loved the dish. Since then, I included Satti in my repertoire of favorite meals.

Meet the 11 lovely candidates for the 2009 Miss Zamboanga Beauty Pageant.