Options for Pork
The Philippines is for sure one of the countries of the world that have the most number of celebrations and commemorative e events. The most common celebrations are the fiestas, which are held to pay homage to the patron saints of various areas, from the smallest sitio to the biggest city. To some extent, fiestas also give the celebrating communities a chance to show off their progress; it is a time to display the best they’ve got.
Some people say that the celebration of fiestas in the country is an import from the Spanish colonizers. Probably not quite so. Historians have found out that even during the pre-Spanish times, the country’s native inhabitants were already having similar celebrations for their many deities. There is no doubt, however, that the celebrations might have taken a Christian twist upon the introduction of the religion in the islands by the Spaniards.
The Filipino celebration of fiestas today may be much more lavish than those of the olden days. It’s easy to understand why: There are more people today than in the past; and the facility of modern transportation enables people to come and celebrate the fiesta of other places. The host communities take it upon themselves to provide for their visitors, often in a lavish way.
The usual treat that visitors get to enjoy in a fiesta celebration is food, special food. The main menu usually consists of pork and beef, but mostly pork. A host home would at least start raising a pig, purposely for fiesta food, within three to five months to fiesta time.
A pig is mainly relied on for celebratory feasts in the country, because pigs are easier and quicker to grow than cattle. Also, pork is comparatively more versatile. There are many more dishes that can be made with pork than with any other meats.
In Cebu, the famous Cebu Lechon has become a fixture in the fiesta fare. But it could not be just lechon all the way. There has got to be other dishes for variety, so as not to bore the taste buds – although, yes, these other dishes may still have pork as main ingredient!
Crispy fried pork adobo (which Cebu is also famous for), pork estofado, pork humba, and grilled pork chops are local favorite fiesta dishes too. Sweet and Sour Pork is becoming popular, as well. And it’s okay to borrow the top pork dishes of the neighboring regions.
Here’s one option for pork for the fiesta fare. It is another variation of soy-based Filipino stews, but in this dish banana blossoms and pork shanks are used as well as brown sugar to sweeten the sauce. This recipe from the website www. savvynana.com can easily be a one-step process with all the ingredients thrown together in one wok or pot to cook.