Experiencing things that remind you of Cebu

otap++
(read otap plus plus)

Otap is a food item. It is near-oval shaped, about four to six inches long, two inches wide, and 1/8 inch thick. It has a surface that looks like it was crumpled before it was baked, and is sprinkled with white sugar.  When one starts to take a bite, otap easily breaks up into small crispy crumbs at the point of contact with the offending teeth and quickly litter the floor if one is standing while eating, or the lap if one is sitting. It takes skill to eat otap without causing heartbreak to one's househelp.

Eating otap is a unique experience (which is best experienced by actually eating!). This must be the reason why people would want to have it again after they have tasted it. Depending on the quantity desired, otap is packaged in different ways: in two's, wrapped in onion skin paper; in cellophane packs; in cylindrical tin containers.

There are many otap makers around Cebu City. But for reasons known only to the buyers, many prefer Shamrock™ otap (just as many prefer generic otap).

Otap has "relatives", hence the plus plus (++) in our title. When one goes to a store to buy otap, he is likely to buy the relatives as well: rosquillos, galletas, barquillos, turones. Each of these items has its unique appearance and taste. Rosquillos are donut shaped but thin; they easily become soft and almost melt on contact with the tongue. Galletas are roundish and also thin, but a little tougher to bite. Barquillos look like diplomas minus the ribbons; like the otap, they have the tendency to litter the floor with tiny crumbs. Turones look like cigars minus the smoke and the nicotine.

Children in particular love otap++. If you're not a child anymore, you'd like to become one the moment you taste them. The catch is: if you become a child, who's going to give you money to buy them?