Pastillas


Pastillas, also known as Pastillas de Leche or Pastiyema is a milk-based confectionery with origins in the town of San Miguel in Bulacan, Philippines. From San Miguel, pastillas-making spread to other Philippine regions such as the provinces of Cagayan and Masbate.
Initially, pastillas de leche were primarily home-made by carabao-rearing farmers. A small-scale industry on the food product soon grew, with the pastillas made from either carabao or cow milk or both. Refined sugar and calamondin juice are also added during the pastillas-making process.
In San Miguel, Bulacan, a Pastillas Festival has been celebrated every May since 2006. The paper-cut form of the pabalat is also linked to the festival, involving making elaborate paper-cut designs using these wrappers.