Ayungin

Photo by Mommy Shelette of daing na ayungin.

Ayungin is a freshwater fish known in English as silver perch.

Scientific name: Leiopotherapon plumbeus

This fish is endemic to the Philippines.

It has been told that the ayungin is the favorite fish of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal, and that he favored it in sinigang.

At one time, it was the most abundant fish in Laguna de Bay, which is the largest lake in the country. Today, the ayungin fish population shows a steep decline due to overharvesting.