Narrator: This soup is prepared
with a very special ingredient --
a nest of the swiftlet bird.
Narrator: The soup is considered a delicacy
around the world.
One bowl can cost as much as $100.
Harvesters have to climb slippery cliffs
just to find and collect the coveted nests.
We went to the Philippines to find out
how this infamous dish is prepared
and why it's such a rare treat.
Meet Robin Palacio Jr.
He's a chef at Liedans, a restaurant here in Taytay.
Narrator: Lomi is a traditional Filipino soup
made with egg noodles, meat, and vegetables.
Preparing it is simple.
You start by simmering some garlic and onion in olive oil.
Then, Chef Robin adds veggies and noodles
before the swiftlet nest goes in.
It only takes about 45 seconds for the nest to cook.
And he adds some of the nest in the end as garnish.
The nests are rich in protein and amino acids.
And they cost between $1,000
to $10,000 per kilogram, depending on the quality.
Narrator: Gathering the main ingredient requires
years of experience.
Alvin Villarendo climbs cliffs
that are up to 100 feet high
with no harnesses or safety gear.
Narrator: The men in Alvin's family have been doing
this job for generations.
Their ancestors discovered the caves on Nabat Island
hundreds of years ago.
Now they're the only ones allowed
to pick the nest during harvest season
between December to April.
Alvin can find as many as 2,500 in those five months.
Locals also believe in the healing power
of bird's nest soup.
Narrator: Alvin's wife, Marbie, drank it
after giving birth.
Narrator: Studies show the soup is high
in sialic acids, which improve neurological
and intellectual function in infants.
And here in the Philippines,
people claim it has other health benefits, too.
Narrator: While those claims haven't been proven,
the soup is still a favorite in China, Indonesia,
and among locals in the Philippines.