IJSEGCE VOL 1, No.1 November 2018 ISSN: 2656- 3037 http://www.journals.segce.com/index.php/IJSEGCE The Story of Balut (Boiled Fertilized Duck Egg) Entrepreneurs; Their Characteristics, Expertise, and Contributions ISMAEL A. HAGUISAN, III ORCID No. 0000-0001-6206-8957 [email protected] La Consolacion College Bacolod Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philipppines Abstract Balut (“bah-loot,” both singular and plural) are the 16-to-21-day-old fertilized duck eggs that tend to either fascinate or revolt foreigners. To be precise, it’s a boiled egg that contains not only a yolk but also a semi-developed duck embryo. Usually hailed as one of the Philippines’ most iconic and exotic delicacies, it is cracked open and eaten with a dash of salt, vinegar. The study documented the story of Balut entrepreneurs in one of the regions in the Philippines. The study utilizes the qualitative design using narrative inquiry method. The rigors of the findings which includes credibility, dependability, transferability, and confirmability were among the trustworthiness of the data to reduce the biases and subjectivity of the study. Data were analyzed following a thematic approach of data explication. Balut entrepreneurs experiences narrated the story of their characteristics, expertise, and their contributions. After a rigorous data explication, there were 9 essential themes emerged namely: Balut as Food, Processing of Balut, Quality of Balut, Feedback, Marketing Intermediaries, Socio-Economic Benefits, Characteristic of Entrepreneurs, Learnings, and Challenges. It showed that product quality is essential to the success of the Balut entrepreneurs as it brings them more customers and vendors loyalty to patronize their Balut eggs. Excellent and quality service play critical contributions in shaping customers expectations and influencing the nature of customer experiences. Moreover, socio-economic benefits were attained through the existence of Balut business activities which influences employment to the rural community for the people to work for them. The Balut business owners were inspired to continue their business despite their struggles and weariness in their business. Keywords: business management, experiences of Balut entrepreneurs, qualitative-narrative inquiry, Philippines INTRODUCTION is famously eaten with a dash of salt and vinegar with chili (Angon, 2015). Balut is sometimes Ducks have traditionally been raised in the regarded to as “embryonated egg” or “incubated backyard by rural households in the Philippines eggs” because the eggs are collected and because they provide excellent sources of consumed when the embryos are within 14-18 supplementary income and low-cost animal days old. Balut has recognized a delicacy by the protein too often resource-poor rural families Filipinos for its exceptional taste and nutritional (Villano, 2008). value. (Chang et al., 2003) In the Philippines, Balut is the duck embryo To make Balut, fertilized duck eggs are still in its shell and is considered as a delicacy. It incubated at 40-42.5°C in incubators with 14 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1234/ijsegce.v1i1.11 http://journals.segce.com/index.php/IJSEGCE/article/view/11 IJSEGCE VOL 1, No.1 November 2018 ISSN: 2656- 3037 http://www.journals.segce.com/index.php/IJSEGCE approximately high humidity. These conditions researchers and instructors are beginning to support for the growth and development of the believe that social entrepreneurship can not only embryo until the eggs are removed at 18 days; a be taught, but those social entrepreneurs can be period which occurs in the formation of a partially developed through exposure and education formed embryo. Full development and hatching of (Ratiu, Cherry, & Nielson, 2014). duck eggs typically happen at 28 days. During the incubation stage, the eggs are lighted to monitor Based on the profound interests of the the growth and development of the embryos; researcher in the field of hospitality management infertile eggs or those comprising a non-viable in the area of food business production, the embryo are separated. Although Balut is usually researchers were challenged to explore on the made from duck eggs, chicken eggs can also be experiences of the Balut entrepreneurs; their utilized. Where the eggs of the chicken are used, attributes, expertise, and contributions. fertile eggs are brooded at 37°C for about 14 Objective days. Full development and hatching of chicken eggs typically happen at 21 days (Center for To explore the experiences of the Balut Public Health and Zoonoses, 2011). entrepreneurs. The quality of “Balut” egg should be Framework of the Study cleaned and not have been washed, have egg fertility (embryo livability) of not less than 85% The fertilized 18-day-old duck egg has and shell thickness of at least 0.3 mm. Ovoid revolted even the most daring delicacies with its shape with an egg shape index close to 75% and carnal forms, earning it high rankings on many a a yolk visual score of at least 11 in the Roche "most disgusting/strange/terrifying meal" list. color fan are preferred (Caramihan, Escobin, & While food journalists regularly label Balut as the Medialdia, 2009). Philippines' "much-loved delicacy," in reality, Filipinos are decidedly split over their nation's oft- Moreover, these Balut eggs being sold sung snack (Calderon, 2014). are labeled as "chicks nearly waiting to hatch" and are sold by vendors "who will never see their Furthermore, the eggs from this duck are buyers again, will not hear recriminations, or form processed to "Balut," "Penoy" and salted eggs. A friendships with them" (Fernandez, 1994). This delicacy of Southeast Asia and especially of the deliberate sale of items considered by numerous Philippines that commands a good price, "Balut" Filipinos as culturally unwanted and undesirable is a boiled fertilized duck egg incubated for about can be interpreted as a hostile act since the 18 days with a developed embryo inside that is vendor is foisting upon an unsuspecting customer boiled or steamed and eaten in the shell. An an egg that is a "chick-like creature (Magat, interview with a traditional "Balut" maker showed 2016). that the best "Balut" which is known as "Balut sa puti" is made by allowing the eggs to incubate for Regarding marketing intermediaries, about 18 days, but beyond that, the chick will be ducks eggs tend to transfer through various too large for leisurely developed consumption. intermediaries before reaching the final customer Duck eggs that are not properly after 9 to 12 days (Chang et al., 2003). are sold as "Penoy," which look, smell and taste more similar to regular hard-boiled eggs. These There were also benefits that will be eggs are originally unfertilized, therefore gained in poultry farming. Thus, socio-economic incapable of developing into chicks. After development can be achieved with the help of incubation, the egg white hardens, and the yolk family poultry farming. (Kabir, Asaduzzaman, & softens and becomes watery after boiling (Hatae Dev, 2015). On the other hand, entrepreneurship et al., 2007). 15 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1234/ijsegce.v1i1.11 http://journals.segce.com/index.php/IJSEGCE/article/view/11 IJSEGCE VOL 1, No.1 November 2018 ISSN: 2656- 3037 http://www.journals.segce.com/index.php/IJSEGCE Likewise, duck production is one of the most of quality breeder stock, high cost, inconsistent productive livestock businesses in the country quality, and inefficient marketing system) mainly because of its egg which can be vented identified in the past (Coligado, 1985; Lambio, through various channels. But one of the 2000) can be adequately addressed (Chang & disadvantages of duck eggs is that they have a Dagaas, 2004). fishy smell and flavor which many people do not like. This is presumably the leading cause why While Balut is primarily a Philippine delicacy, most duck eggs are processed into two great prepared duck and chicken eggs (e.g., salt eggs Filipino delicacies: Balut (a fertilized egg with an and “hundred years” eggs) are appreciated in almost-developed embryo inside that is boiled much of Asia, and this market is generally and eaten in the shell) and salted egg (Davao, supplied by smallholders (Magat, 2016; Chang & 2016). Dagaas, 2004; Kryger et al., 2010). Chang and Dagaas (2004) also noted that Ducks eggs tend to pass through many Balut accounts for some 90 percent of duck-egg intermediaries before entering the final buyer. production in the Philippines – where over 75 Although the intermediaries provide valuable percent of ducks are raised for eggs under marketing assistance in most situations, in an backyard conditions (Kryger, Thomsen, Whyte, & imperfect market where market knowledge and Dissing, 2010). quality standards are lacking, and markets are controlled by a few players, there is the tendency To processes, the Balut, (Pilipino) or hot Vit for the dominant players to overcharge for their Lon (Vietnamese) are incubated fertilized duck assistance. Since an expert marketing system eggs, which are boiled or steamed for 20-30 depends on accurate price signs, underpaid minutes when the embryo is 16-18 days old. The producers manage to produce less while an embryonated eggs are incubated in a Balutan or overcharged consumer leads to consuming less some other variety of artificial incubator. A regular (Chang et al., 2003). Balutan is a low building with walls of bamboo or nipa palm and a corrugated iron roof. Small On the other hand, Balut producers may also windows are provided for ventilation. Rice hull or be considered as an entrepreneur. An sawdust is spread on the floor to absorb excess entrepreneur is said to have or need to acquire moisture (DOST, 2001). specific capital (Burt, 2000) to pursue the perceived market opportunities. This includes As to the quality of Balut, the quality egg financial capital (monetary), social capital should be cleaned and not have been washed, (relationships) and human capital (natural! have egg fertility (embryo livability) of not less abilities) (Mongia, 2013).