Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Rufina Patis: very much a part of Malabon heritage

It's not a structure, landmark or person.  Nor a tradition, event or work of art.

But it is an institution in itself, and a part of Malabon heritage:

RUFINA PATIS -- that golden amber fish sauce first discovered by a housewife from Malabon that has been turning Pinoy dishes into delectable culinary experiences here and abroad for more than a century.


(Image from the RUFINA PATIS Facebook page )

ITS HISTORY

Rufina Salao vda. de Lucas was said to have discovered patis in 1900.  She was a fish dealer, and like others during those days when there was no refrigeration yet, she was looking for ways to preserve fish especially during the summer when fish was abundant. She would make bagoong for her family by mashing fish and salt and storing the mixture in earthen jars.  She soon discovered that the raw mixture secreted a juice that was much clearer than the bagoong mash.  After experimenting in the family kitchen, she found that the juice blended well with our native dishes, bringing out and enhancing the flavor of the dish.

Thinking that people might like the delicious fish sauce, Mrs. Lucas decided to produce the liquid in commercial quantity.  She began with an initial capital of 50 pesos and a number of earthen jars housed in a nipa hut.


A sketch depicting the beginnings of RUFINA PATIS in 1900 (From a frame in the RUFINA PATIS office).

Other housewives in Malabon and adjacent towns soon picked up on Mrs. Lucas' discovery and began producing patis as well.

Before 1941, when the demand for patis began to really pick up, Mrs. Lucas had to discard the earthen jars and began using large wooden barrels, which were discovered to provide for natural filtration, resulting in a much clearer product free from impurities.

After the war, with the demand getting bigger, the wooden barrels were likewise discarded and replaced by concrete vats.  Production stepped up, and distribution became more diversified, with groceries and supermarkets beginning to stack up their shelves with RUFINA PATIS.

To meet the increased demand, the first processing and bottling plant of RUFINA PATIS was put up at C. Arellano Street in 1957.

In 1958 when her son Jesus S. Lucas went to the United States, he realized the huge potentials of exporting the product to the US particularly in places with big Filipino communities.  After submitting many samples to the Federal government, RUFINA PATIS passed the very stringent requirements on food imports and was authorized to be sold in the American market.

In 1968, RUFINA PATIS inaugurated its second processing and bottling plant on Bonifacio Steet corner Naval. With this plant, the company more than doubled its production output. 


Mrs. Lucas received the BWAP award from President Carlos P. Garcia for her "vision, ingenuity, industry, leadership and determination."  She was presented the top award posthumously by the Philippine Marketing Association in 1966 for her "exemplary work in elevating a common domestic product to a level that has gained acceptance in the Philippines and in foreign countries and for providing an inspiring example of a total marketing success."  The Lions Club of Malabon also honored her in 1968 for her notable contribution in the field of home industry.

Mrs. Lucas passed away in 1961 and Mr. Jesus Lucas took over as General Manager of the company.


The old RUFINA PATIS bottle  (From a laminated picture in the RUFINA PATIS office).

A 1968 ad of RUFINA PATIS with a sketch of its founder, Mrs. Rufina Salao vda. de Lucas  (From clippings in the Malabon City Library).

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The second RUFINA PATIS processing and bottling complex located at Bonifacio Street corner Naval, said to be the biggest and most modern automated fish sauce plant in the country at that time.  (Photo from The Manila Times, March 27, 1968).


RUFINA PATIS TODAY

From its modest beginnings in the kitchen of an enterprising housewife in 1900, RUFINA PATIS has become a byword in homes and restaurants over the years.  As front runner in the fish sauce industry in the Philippines, it has continued to develop its product scientifically while maintaining rigid quality control.  This dedication to quality has made RUFINA PATIS very popular not only locally but also in Europe, Canada, Hongkong, Australia, Middle East and the Mainland USA, where it it is currently being exported regularly.

RUFINA PATIS has become an institution in itself.  With its distinguished history going back to more than one hundred years, RUFINA PATIS has become an iconic home-grown product, and very much a part of Malabon's heritage that we can be proud of.



The RUFINA PATIS plant on Bonifacio corner Naval Streets today.


RUFINA PATIS factory on C. Arellano Street.  The traditional Easter Sunday "Salubong" (Meeting) of Mary and the Risen Christ is held in front of this building.  Behind the factory is the Malabon River, where the annual pagoda (fluvial procession) sponsored by the Lucas Family is held every December 9 in honor of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.



















Interesting display at the RUFINA PATIS office:  a display of all their competitors' products.  Even more interesting: their biggest competitor is not any of the other brands -- it's the fake RUFINA PATIS !


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RUFINA PATIS FACTORY
290 C. Arellano Street
Malabon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (632) 281.6230-32
Fax No. (632) 281.5636



References:
1.  Various articles in The Manila Times, March 27, 1968 issue (From the Malabon City Library).
2.  "Salao Lucas, discoverer of Rufina Patis," by Sol H. Gwekoh, The Manila Times, September 23, 1968.
3.  Rufina Patis flyer (2011).



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12 comments:

  1. hello po...i am Gerlyn Rolloque...it is great to know about your business coz it became a pattern on my Business proposal..i am a second year college student of PUP mulanay..
    ask q lang po if how fish did u used in one bottle of patis...tnx. your response will help me a lot for my research...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gerlyn, I'm not from Rufina Patis. I just write about Malabon, to share the many great things I'm discovering/rediscovering about it. I suggest you call Rufina Patis at the phone numbers given above.

      Thanks for dropping by.

      Delete
  2. If I recall, the annual Concepcion pagoda used to start at Rufina and so was the salubong.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, the annual Concepcion pagoda sponsored by the Lucas family begins at Rufina. The traditional salubong is also held there. Thanks for your comment.

      Delete
  3. Hi, how are you? Rufina Patis is also a high quality fish sauce sold at many Asian stores in USA particularly in California. The price of a big bottle (750mL) here is $3.50. There are many brands of patis from Philippines but still most of all Filipinos here are buying Rufina Patis.

    Honestly, many other Asian people here in California are saying that our patis has a good taste compared to other fish sauce from Vietnam and Thailand. They tried our patis for making Som Tum (Thai Green Papaya Salad) and the taste is better. Kapag bibili ako ng patis, ginagawa kong 4 kasi nauubos agad iyon sa mga Asian stores.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for sharing that bit of info about Rufina Patis abroad. I wholeheartedly agree -- Rufina Patis is really more tasty than other brands. In Tagalog "talagang malinamnam."

      I'm proud that Rufina Patis has maintained its quality over the years, and that it's become a part of Malabon's heritage.

      Delete
  4. Much thanks Cecil for a wonderful blog sharing your love and passion in discovering/rediscovering Malabon...

    I grew up in Malabon and left for America as a young child right after Martial Law was declared. I certainly appreciate your blog writing and photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your comment. It's heartwarming that Malabonians from abroad appreciate being able to discover/rediscover our hometown, too!

      Delete
  5. I am doing a script for a independent film production. The movie scenes will be from the 1940's to 1970s and I wonder where I can get a copy of the original Rufina Patis radio jingle as i will use this for the movie. Many thanks

    Luis Reambonanza
    0905-2770688

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suggest you call Rufina Patis at 281.6230-32 to find out if it's still possible to get a copy of their original radio jingle.

      Thanks for dropping by.

      Delete
  6. My maiden name is Amper, and my father lived in Malabon before he came to the US in 1965. Although I am US-born Fil-Am, I grew up with Rufina patis, and I always come back to it whenever it is available. Thank you for a wonderful article!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi. I'm happy to have written this article so more people would know about how this simple product became a part of Malabon's rich heritage. Thanks for dropping by.

      Delete