By Helen Castaño | 03:08 PM December 11, 2025
BOHOL, Philippines — The traditional craft of making Asin Tibuok, one of the Philippines’ rarest artisanal sea salts, has been officially inscribed in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) Intangible Cultural Heritage List in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, underscoring its cultural significance and the pressing need to protect it from extinction.
The announcement was delivered on Tuesday, December 9, during the 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Historic Red Fort in New Delhi, India. Members of the Philippine delegation, national cultural institutions, and Boholano representatives were present as Unesco confirmed the inscription.
The element is formally listed as “The practice of making Asin Tibuok, the artisanal sea salt of the Boholano of Bohol Island, Philippines.” It now joins the ranks of globally recognized traditions considered endangered yet vital to the preservation of cultural diversity.
Asin Tibuok—literally “unbroken salt”—is produced using a centuries-old method unique to Bohol. The process involves leaching seawater through ashes of burned coconut husks, then boiling the concentrated brine for long hours in handcrafted clay pots. The outcome is a distinctive, egg-shaped block of salt known for its smoky aroma, deep flavor, and cultural symbolism.
Despite its heritage value, the tradition has nearly vanished. Only a small number of mang-asinay (saltmakers) in the town of Alburquerque continue the practice today—a reality that underscores the urgency of Unesco’s listing.
Philippine Ambassador to France Eduardo Jose de Vega, who joined the delegation in India, said the recognition pays homage to generations of artisans who quietly preserved the knowledge.
“This inscription is very meaningful to the saltmakers of Alburquerque, Bohol, who have safeguarded this precious knowledge for generations,” he said. “Asin Tibuok reflects our people’s relationship with the sea and the enduring craftsmanship and cooperation that define many Filipino traditions.”
Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado said asin tibuok is a treasure.
“Kita mismong mga Bol-anon ang numero unong manalipod niining bililhon nga bahandi. Ang dakong sakripisyo ug kahago sa paghimo sa Asin Tibuok atong paningkamotan nga mapasa sa umaabot pang mga henerasyon, ug masiguro usab nga mapanalipdan ang panginabuhian sa atong mga kaigsuonan, ” he said.
Alburquerque Mayor Don Ritchie Buates, who also witnessed the decision, said the inscription validates a deeply rooted cultural identity and honors the resilience of local families who upheld the craft despite limited resources and economic change.
The nomination was made possible through a multi-agency collaboration involving the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Unesco National Commission of the Philippines, the National Museum of the Philippines, and local partners such as the provincial government of Bohol, Center for Culture and Arts and Development, the municipal government of of Alburquerque, the Bohol Arts and Cultural Heritage Council, Kasama, Tan-inong Asin Tibook, Asin Tibuok de Bohol, Mario’s Asinan, Mang Rolly’s Asin, and the Alburquerque Salt Potters.
With the Unesco inscription, the practice now qualifies for priority interventions, including the transmission of traditional knowledge, promotion of local production, documentation and research, community cultural programs, and livelihood support for saltmakers.
The recognition follows the product’s Geographical Indication (GI) registration earlier this year, further strengthening its protection as a unique cultural asset of Alburquerque and the province of Bohol.
Once endangered and little known outside its community of makers, Asin Tibuok now stands among the world’s valued cultural traditions—an enduring testament to Boholano artistry, resilience, and ancestral heritage.
