Asin Tibuok from Bohol has been included in UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

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09 Dec 2025
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Asin Tibuok from Bohol Recognized by UNESCO for Urgent Cultural Heritage Protection On December 9, 2025, UNESCO inscribed the practice of making asin tibuok, the artisanal sea salt of Bohol, into the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. This recognition marks a significant achievement for Philippine heritage and brings global attention […]

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Asin Tibuok from Bohol has been included in UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Asin Tibuok from Bohol Recognized by UNESCO for Urgent Cultural Heritage Protection

On December 9, 2025, UNESCO inscribed the practice of making asin tibuok, the artisanal sea salt of Bohol, into the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. This recognition marks a significant achievement for Philippine heritage and brings global attention to a salt-making tradition passed down through generations in Alburquerque, Bohol.

Asin tibuok, which means “whole salt,” is a rare type of sea salt that looks like a white egg encased in a brown shell. The salt is made through a lengthy process using coconut husks, seawater, and traditional techniques that date back to Spanish colonial times. Only 11 families in Alburquerque continue to practice this craft today, compared with more than 100 families centuries ago.

The UNESCO listing highlights both the cultural value of asin tibuok and the urgent need to preserve it. This article examines the salt-making tradition, its significance to Bohol’s heritage, the challenges that threaten its survival, and the efforts underway to preserve this practice for future generations.

Overview of Asin Tibuok

Definition and Characteristics

Asin tibuok, which translates to “whole salt” or “unbroken salt,” is a traditional sea salt that looks like a white egg encased in a brown shell. The salt is shaped to resemble a coconut or dome.

The taste is sharp, with smoky and fruity undertones, giving it an earthy quality that distinguishes it from regular table salt. This unique flavor comes from the traditional production method using coconut materials.

The final product is considered one of the rarest salts in the world. Each piece is handmade, making it more than just a cooking ingredient—it represents a living piece of Filipino cultural heritage.

Traditional Production Process

Production begins with the collection of coconut husks, which are soaked in pits for several months. During this time, the pits are continually filled with seawater during the tides.

The soaked husks are cut into small pieces and dried for a few days. They are then burned in a pile for approximately a week until they are completely reduced to ash.

Seawater is filtered through these coconut husk ashes, and the resulting brine is collected. The filtered seawater is boiled in clay pots over wood fires until the salt crystallizes and forms its distinctive shape.

Historical Significance in Bohol

Asin tibuok has been part of Bohol’s cultural identity for centuries, produced primarily in the village of Alburquerque. The salt-making practice represents traditional knowledge and skills unique to the Boholano community.

In the past, locals considered asin tibuok a highly valuable trade good. They exchanged it for rice, corn, and other essential items with neighboring communities.

The tradition declined as cheaper, mass-produced table salt became widely available. Today, only a handful of families in Bohol continue practicing this salt-making technique, making it a dying tradition that requires urgent preservation efforts.

UNESCO Recognition of Asin Tibuok

Criteria for Intangible Cultural Heritage Listing

UNESCO’s Urgent Safeguarding List protects cultural practices at risk of disappearing. The list was established in 2010 to identify elements that require urgent measures to remain viable.

Asin tibuok qualified for this designation because production has dropped to critical levels. The practice now exists only among four families in Alburquerque, making it vulnerable to extinction. The traditional knowledge is passed down through generations, but fewer people learn the craft each year.

The salt-making process demonstrates indigenous knowledge that dates back to Spanish colonial times. It employs natural materials and handmade techniques characteristic of Bohol’s coastal communities. The practice involves both physical skills and cultural knowledge that cannot be easily documented or replicated.

Process and Timeline of Inclusion

The Philippines formally presented asin tibuok at UNESCO’s committee meeting in New Delhi during December 2025. The nomination process required detailed documentation of the traditional practice and evidence of its endangered status.

The presentation included a nomination video that showed how Boholano people produce artisanal sea salt. Officials explained the traditional techniques and the current threats to the practice’s survival. The committee reviewed the fact that only four families continue to practice this heritage craft.

The nomination highlighted the urgent need for protection and support. Documentation indicated a decline in practitioners and the risk of permanently losing this cultural knowledge.

Implications for Bohol and the Philippines

The UNESCO recognition brings global attention to Bohol’s traditional salt-making heritage. Alburquerque already received geographical indication status for its asin tibuok, which protects authentic products from counterfeits.

This designation creates opportunities for cultural preservation efforts. The recognition may attract funding and resources to support the remaining four families who practice this craft. It validates the cultural significance of asin tibuok beyond its culinary value.

Chefs and cultural advocates treasure asin tibuok as both a cooking ingredient and a symbol of indigenous knowledge. The UNESCO listing strengthens efforts to preserve traditional methods while the practice remains in use. The recognition positions the Philippines as a steward of important intangible cultural heritage in Southeast Asia.

Cultural Importance of Asin Tibuok

Role in Boholano Cuisine

Asin tibuok functions as a specialty seasoning in traditional Boholano cooking. Chefs value it as a culinary delicacy because of its distinctive flavor profile that differs from that of regular table salt.

The salt is used in various local dishes, where its distinctive flavor enhances the food. Cooks break open the brown shell to access the white salt inside, using it sparingly due to its rarity. Its egg-like appearance makes it recognizable in kitchens across Bohol.

The ingredient has attracted the attention of professional chefs who appreciate its artisanal qualities. This recognition has increased demand for asin tibuok in recent years, although production remains limited to four families in Alburquerque.

Meaning in Local Traditions

Salt holds significant value in Boholano culture as a symbol of heritage. Communities view asin tibuok as a connection to their ancestors and traditional ways of life.

In earlier periods, people treated asin tibuok as a valuable commodity. Locals exchanged it for essential goods such as rice and corn because of its value. This practice demonstrated the importance of salt to the local economy and daily life.

The salt-making tradition dates back to Spanish colonial times among coastal communities. Families passed down the knowledge and techniques through generations, keeping the practice alive for hundreds of years.

Community Practices and Rituals

The making of asin tibuok involves a long process that requires cooperation among community members. Salt makers start by collecting coconut husks and soaking them in seawater. This process uses only locally sourced natural materials.

The entire creation takes considerable time and follows specific traditional methods. Salt makers shape the product into its distinctive form, resembling a white egg inside a brown shell. Each step requires skill and knowledge that families learned from their elders.

Only four families in Alburquerque continue this practice today. These families maintain the craft despite the availability of cheaper, mass-produced salt. Their work preserves cultural knowledge that risks disappearing without protection and support.

Asinan ni Tan Inong - Asin Tibuok maker in Alburquerque Bohol

Challenges Facing Asin Tibuok

Decline in Production

Only eleven families in Alburquerque, Bohol continue making asin tibuok today. Some reports indicate that only one active salt maker, called an asindero, continues to produce salt. This represents a dramatic decline relative to earlier generations, when the practice was more widespread throughout the region.

The limited production creates an irregular and small market for asin tibuok. Each piece sells for 80 to 150 Philippine pesos, but the income remains inconsistent. The labor-intensive process requires months of work per batch, making it difficult for families to subsist on salt-making alone.

Many younger community members choose other careers that offer more stable income and less physical labor. The demanding nature of the work, combined with uncertain financial returns, discourages new practitioners from learning the craft.

Impact of Modernization

Modern commercial salt provides a cheaper and more readily available alternative to asin tibuok. Consumers can purchase industrial salt at a fraction of the cost and effort required to obtain traditional artisanal salt.

The time-intensive production method conflicts with contemporary economic demands. Families require more rapid sources of income to meet modern living expenses. The months required to produce asin tibuok make it impractical as a primary livelihood.

Changing cooking practices and food preferences have also reduced demand for traditional ingredients. Fewer households seek specialty salts when standard options suffice for basic cooking.

Threats to Traditional Knowledge

The knowledge of making asin tibuok passes down only through direct family teaching. With so few active practitioners remaining, the detailed techniques and skills risk disappearing entirely. Each step of the complex process requires specific expertise that takes years to develop.

The lack of documented procedures means the tradition depends entirely on living practitioners. If the remaining salt makers cease to function before teaching others, the knowledge could be lost permanently. Young people show limited interest in learning the craft, creating a gap in intergenerational knowledge transmission.

Asin Tibuok photo via Kabilin Albur FB Page

Safeguarding Measures and Preservation Efforts

Community and Artisan Initiatives

The remaining salt-making families in Alburquerque serve as the primary guardians of the Asin Tibuok tradition. These artisans pass down their knowledge through hands-on training with younger family members and interested community members. They maintain the traditional methods while adapting to modern challenges.

Local cooperatives assist these families in marketing their products and connecting with buyers beyond Bohol. The community has documented the complete salt-making process through videos and written records. This documentation ensures the technique survives even if fewer practitioners remain active.

Artisans also welcome visitors to observe the traditional process. These demonstrations help generate income while raising awareness about the craft’s cultural value.

Government and NGO Support

The Philippine government granted Asin Tibuok Geographical Indication (GI) status, which protects the product name and supports local producers economically. The UNESCO Philippine National Commission submitted the practice for international recognition on the Urgent Safeguarding List.

The Provincial Government of Bohol provides assistance to salt-making families through various programs. These programs include financial support, marketing assistance, and infrastructure improvements. National agencies work with local officials to create policies that protect traditional crafts.

Non-governmental organizations contribute by facilitating workshops and connecting artisans with markets. They help secure funding for preservation projects and coordinate with international heritage organizations.

Education and Awareness Programs

Schools in Bohol have begun incorporating Asin Tibuok into their local culture curricula. Students learn about the traditional process and its historical importance to their region. Some programs arrange field trips to see the salt-making process firsthand.

Media coverage has increased public interest in Asin Tibuok, bringing more attention to the need for preservation. Television programming and online content help Filipinos nationwide discover this traditional product. Educational materials explain why maintaining these practices matters for cultural identity.

Training workshops teach the salt-making technique to people outside the original families. These programs aim to increase the number of practitioners before the knowledge is lost entirely.

Economic and Tourism Impact

Potential for Local Livelihood

The status of a geographical indication and UNESCO inscription protect Asin Tibuok’s authentic production methods while creating new revenue streams for the remaining salt-making families. This recognition allows producers to command premium prices for their labor-intensive product. The traditional process takes weeks to complete and requires specialized knowledge passed down through generations.

Local communities can expand production capacity while maintaining quality standards. The protected status prevents cheaper imitations from diluting the market. Salt makers can establish direct sales channels to restaurants, specialty food stores, and consumers willing to pay for authentic cultural products.

Training programs could help younger generations learn the craft, creating jobs in Alburquerque. Related businesses, such as packaging, distribution, and education on the salt-making process, offer additional income opportunities for residents.

Integration into Culinary Tourism

Food-focused travelers seek authentic experiences like witnessing Asin Tibuok production firsthand. The salt’s distinctive egg shape and centuries-old production method provide compelling narratives for culinary tours. Restaurants throughout Bohol can feature dishes prepared with Asin Tibuok to attract visitors interested in regional cuisine.

Demonstration workshops enable tourists to observe the burning of coconut husks, ash filtration, and the boiling of seawater in clay pots. These hands-on experiences connect travelers with living cultural traditions. Local establishments can develop tasting menus that highlight the salt’s distinct mineral profile compared to commercial alternatives.

The UNESCO designation increases international awareness, drawing food enthusiasts from other countries. Tour operators can package salt-making visits with other Bohol attractions to create comprehensive cultural itineraries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding’ signify in UNESCO’s terms?

The Urgent Safeguarding list identifies cultural practices at risk of vanishing. UNESCO established this list in 2010 to highlight traditions that require immediate action to preserve them.

These cultural elements face threats from modernization, declining practitioners, or changing social conditions. The designation signals that without intervention, these practices may disappear within a generation.

How does inclusion on UNESCO’s list benefit the Asin Tibuok tradition?

UNESCO recognition brings international attention to the artisanal salt-making practice. This visibility can attract support from cultural organizations, researchers, and tourists interested in traditional crafts.

The listing helps secure funding and resources for preservation efforts. It also validates the cultural importance of Asin Tibuok, encouraging younger generations to learn and continue the tradition.

Communities gain access to UNESCO’s network of heritage experts and best practices. This support strengthens efforts to document, teach, and sustain the salt-making process.

What are the criteria for a cultural tradition to be included in the UNESCO list?

Cultural practices must demonstrate significant value to their communities and represent intangible heritage. The tradition must demonstrate a risk of disappearing or facing serious threats.

Communities must actively participate in the nomination process and show commitment to safeguarding the practice. The nomination requires a detailed safeguarding plan with specific measures to protect and promote the tradition.

Documentation must prove the practice’s historical continuity and its role in community identity. The tradition should also meet UNESCO’s standards for respecting human rights and promoting cultural diversity.

What steps are being taken to preserve Asin Tibuok following its UNESCO listing?

Only a few families in Albuquerque, Bohol, still practice the traditional salt-making method. Preservation efforts focus on training new practitioners from younger generations to continue the craft.

Educational programs integrate Asin Tibuok-making intothe local curriculum to teach students about their heritage. Documentation projects record the detailed production process to preserve knowledge for future generations.

Bohol’s Asin Tibuok also received Geographical Indication (GI) status, which protects the product’s name and origin. This legal protection supports both economic sustainability and cultural preservation of the tradition.

Can you detail the salt-making process in Bohol that qualifies Asin Tibuok for UNESCO recognition?

Asin Tibuok uses a pre-Hispanic production method that dates back centuries. Salt makers collect seawater and filter it through ash from coconut husks to create concentrated brine.

The filtered brine gets poured into hollow coconut shells. These shells are slowly heated over wood fires for extended periods until the water has completely evaporated.

The result is a solid, dome-shaped salt with an earthy, smoky flavor. This labor-intensive process takes weeks to complete and requires specialized knowledge passed down through families.

What other cultural elements from the Philippines are included on UNESCO’s intangible heritage lists?

The Philippines has submitted multiple nominations to UNESCO’s lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage over the years. The country recognizes the importance of preserving traditional practices that define Filipino cultural identity.

UNESCO maintains several lists of intangible heritage beyond the Urgent Safeguarding category. The Philippines continues to document and nominate significant cultural traditions for international recognition.