Malatapay Market in Zamboangita

10/7/2017

Try the Malatapay market on Wednesdays

Malatapay market is always full of activity at Wednesdays. It's a native market and best known by tourists for its huge and lively market, where morning villagers, farmers and fishermen can be found loudly bartering their goods. Livestock like cows and carabaos, goats and pigs exchange owners here. The entrance fee is 5 PHP.

The scenery is chaotic

The scenery inside the market is chaotic. The selling and buying takes place under lively and loud forms. Specially the pigs were protesting wildly when they were transfered to their new owners or maybe to the slaughter house. Screaming like a pig got a new meaning here. By the way who wouldn't (?) if you were in their situation.

This pig had no intention to volunteer

The pigs got some water to cool off

Tied up and waiting

Not only livestock

It's not only livestock for sale here, there are also assorted meats, vegetables and fruit stands and ukay-ukay stores which sell used clothing imported from foreign countries. You can also find dry goods, like handmade bolo machetes, clothes, shoes, toys, etc. Then last but not least, deliciously barbecued meat, like for example lechon baboy (pork meat). But remember, like all markets here in the Philippines, the Malatapay market opens very early already around 5 AM and if you are not there by 10 AM or so, you won’t be getting the good BBQ! There are some places along the seaside where you can get the fish or meat you have purchased cooked to a nice meal at the cool, breezy beach.

A carabao and its handler patiently waiting

A truckload of goats

How to get there

Malatapay Market is located in Zamboangita, Negros Oriental, around 30 kilometers south of Dumaguete. For those taking the public transport, you can find jeepneys to Zamboangita at the bell tower in Dumaguete City or near the Robinson's Mall. If you are going to Apo island you will pass Malatapay market on your way down to the shore.