Blood and Sweat

Synopsis

Blood and Sweat 
By: Javier T. Delfin
Illustrated by: Arnaldo B. Mirasol

This book tells the story of Rufina Salao Vda. De Lucas, who discovered the sauce known as “patis” in 1900 as a clear liquid resting on top of her fish-salt mixtures. Realizing the value of patis, she endeavoured to produce and sell it, even when she had only 50 jars and 50 pesos to work with. Instead of buying bottles to sell patis in, she reused empty drink bottle instead.

Over time, patis grew in popularity, Lucas expanded her business to meet the demands, she switched to using wooden barrels to ferment. To protect her own business, she patented the name 
“Rufina  Patis” in 1935. Her company built the first concrete patis factory in 1936, since then the Rufina Patis company remains in business to this day that brings flavor to Filipino households everywhere.