For years, people have been trying to create something innovative, healthy, and affordable, which is why malunggay pandesal was born.

As soon as it was released, everyone had been raving about it, mainly because it was new to the market.

Then, a few years later, they got even more creative, adding cheese and calling it malunggay cheese-desal. Our usual plain and crumbly pandesal had variations, but everyone still loves it because it’s pandesal!

WATCH: Rolling Store Hot Malunggay Pandesal (Courtesy: BikolanangLayasera on Youtube)

But is malunggay pandesal actually healthy? Generally, yes, but depending on the amount of malunggay used in production. Malunggay leaves are nutritious, rich in various vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, C, E, iron, and calcium.

However, to achieve this, you must incorporate at least 10 per cent of either malunggay puree or powder into your pandesal dough. So, in the case of malunggay pandesal, we can observe its health benefits every day. Well, the answer is, depending on the bakery itself. If you find your pandesal with a pale green tint, it would be a gimmick instead of actually serving nutrition. 

So what’s new about malunggay pandesal? They’re actually sold in a “rolling bakery” system! A sidecar with glass shelves holding your fresh pandesal and a toaster on the side, so that you can still have your pandesal steaming hot in every purchase. They’ve been rolling around the Philippines for years now, but recently they went viral for some reason. 

Last September, a Facebook post got thousands of reactions from netizens. The post jokingly said: “Masyado tayong na-focus sa flood controls projects, hindi natin namalayan sinasakop na tayo nga mga malunggay pandesal!"

This sparked analysis from viewers, who shared their sightings of multiple sellers in their area. Netizens carried on with the joke, and one of the Facebook users wrote a comment stating, “Kailangan paimbestigahan iyan sa kamara, nakakabahala na hahahahaha”.

Some users also joke about their prominence as “spies” of the government. 

What is the reason for their sudden rise in numbers in almost every barangay? Is this just a distraction for the anomalous flood control projects? Are they actually “spies” of the government? The most straightforward answer is competition.

Some bakery owners who operate roaming malunggay pandesal businesses around Bulacan have revealed that they’re not affiliated with any government agency, specifically the flood control projects, but are instead competing bakeries. 

As it turns out, the demand for malunggay pandesal, combined with the convenience offered by rolling bakeries, has led to a nationwide surge in the sale of malunggay pandesal.