Paniki (Bat)

A fruit bat that feeds on over-ripe lanzones, jackfruit, durian and other tree fruit. The Philippines has over 50 species of fruit bats found throughout the country, including Subic, the Samal Caves in Davao and San Juan, Batangas. Batman, beware! Nothing is spared of the fruit bat once it's been caught. To prepare it for cooking, the entire bat is skinned, and the two glands found at the base of its limbs are removed. It is then chopped into bite-sized pieces, sauteed in oil, garlic, vinegar, tomatoes, pepper, laurel leaves and simmered until the broth has almost dried out. Although some Filipinos consider these fruit bats a delicacy, eating them must be stopped since many bat species are close to becoming endangered. These fruit bats play an important role as they help to maintain the biodiversity of the Philippines' ecological system by propagating fruit-bearing trees.