10th Lechon Festival set in General Santos

SANTOS CITY (MindaNews) – Swine producers here will stage another lechon or roast pig boodle fight on Saturday, July 27, in line with the celebration of the city’s 10th Lechon Festival.

Chester Warren Tan, past president of the South Cotabato Swine Producers Association (Socospa), said more than 40 lechons donated by their members will be served at the city’s oval plaza for the event, which is dubbed “Lechon Fun Boodlefight.”

He said they are all set for the festivity, will also be highlighted by a parade and showcase of the most delectable lechons from various “lechoneros” in the city.

“This is a big event for the swine industry since it is the 10th year of the festival and the second that we will be holding the lechon boodle fight,” he said.

The Lechon Festival was organized by Socospa in coordination with the city government, through the City Veterinary Office, to highlight the thriving swine or hog industry in the city and the neighboring areas.

It is also in line with the celebration of Socospa’s 29th foundation anniversary.

Tan, who chairs the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc., said they expect around 1,500 residents to join the lechon boodle fight set around 10:30 a.m.

In coordination with the barangay councils, he said they invited 50 representatives from each of the city’s 26 barangays for the event.

He said this year’s festival is a prelude to the “grander and bigger” celebration that they are planning next year for Socospa’s 30th anniversary.

“We’re planning to make it (boodle fight) bigger and aim for some record next year,” Tan said.

Tan earlier said they will try to come up with about a kilometer or even longer boodle setup and make a bid for a possible Guinness world record.

The city and South Cotabato province are considered as the center of the swine industry of Region 12, which is reportedly the third largest producer in the country.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the region’s hog production reached some 31,709 metric tons in the last quarter of 2018.

The region’s swine inventory is projected to reach 816,580 heads this year, up from the 764,853 heads last year.

Some 467,932 heads are from backyard raisers and 348,648 heads from commercial raisers or farms. (MindaNews)