ENGL 102: Lechon

[juleswrldd]

Just a Sliver of Filipino Culture

We all know that living in America comes with this idea of a melting pot; different cultures all coming together and blending to be what we call the USA.

I am here to give you my ingredients to this “recipe”.

I am a proud Filipino woman who has lived in America my whole life, but I am constantly surrounded by my Filipino culture through my family members.

An important part of my culture that I will be focusing on is Lechon. This means nothing to you right now, but I hope by the end of my blog you have a greater understanding and are appreciative of this cultural object. 

Why is Lechon an important dish eaten during family gatherings and celebratory events?

Food is very important in the Filipino culture because it provides a way of passing down information from one generation to the next. This is also a time to come together and celebrate being a family. 

I chose to discuss Lechon, a large roasted pig, because it is the national dish of the Philippines and it holds great significance to me. This dish has allowed families, including mine, to celebrate themselves which is something the Filipino culture cherishes. The purpose of my blog series is to share the cultural value Lechon has in the Philippines. In my blog I will be discussing what Lechon is, why it holds such high values within a Filipino family, and why it is a celebratory food.

[juleswrldd]

What is Lechon?

This dish is basically a large roasted pig. Like a huge pig. 

An article all about Lechon written by Sharwin Tee claims that, “The name ‘lechon' is said to have come from the Spanish word ‘lechona’ which means 'suckling pig’” (Tee).

The traditional way of cooking the pig is by placing a stick through the pig (from the mouth to the bottom), and hoist it over a fire. So the “whole pigs are spit-roasted slowly over charcoal for hours. . . the meat inside is rendered tender and juicy and the skin is crisp like candy and caramelized to a perfect orange brown sheen” (Tee).

If cooked right, 

the skin of the pig is nice and crispy, 

with a hint of fat still clinging to its underside,

with a hunk of succulent meat underneath that. 

How do you eat and serve a whole pig? 

To understand how Lechon is eaten and served, let me give you some background.

The Filipino culture has several different mannerisms when compared to Americans. So one mannerism we differ in is eating.

In the Philippines it is very common to see many dishes eaten with your hands because it is more convenient and sometimes it’s just easier to. 

Of course with clean hands, many foods are eaten with rice. Rice is fairly simple to eat with your hands so this is seen throughout many other dishes.

Traditional Lechon is served on top of a bed of banana leaves and surrounded with lots and lots of white rice and a dipping sauce of your choosing. I prefer no sauce, but my mom can’t go without her vinegar dip. 

As delicious Lechon is, it is not something eaten often in Filipino culture. This dish is saved for more special occasions. 

[juleswrldd]

Significance of Lechon

Why is Lechon something that I believe is important to talk about? What is the big deal?

It’s as easy as how Peter Pysk puts it in his article, “Food just brings people together, no matter what the differences—in our case, nationalities and lifestyles—might be” (Pysk). 

Family is such an important aspect in many peoples’ lives, but it is incredibly cherished in the Filipino culture. I have been lucky enough to have experienced this aspect first hand. 

My grandparents and Mom came to America when my Mom was in her early twenties. My Mom then met my father and had both me and my sister. All we had were each other, and that was all that I could ask for. I had all that I wanted knowing I had my family by my side throughout it all. Knowing we had more family back in the Philippines, who were less fortunate than us, made me grateful to be living how I am and makes me realize how lucky my life has been. How does food, especially Lechon, tie into this? 

“We grow up eating the food of our cultures. It becomes a part of who each of us are. Many of us associate food from our childhood with warm feelings and good memories and it ties us to our families, holding a special and personal value for us. Food from our family often becomes the comfort food we seek as adults in times of frustration and stress” (B Le). 

Chau B Le explains in his article that food tells us about our culture. The food that we eat and enjoy all ties into our personal culture. 

On a larger scale, food is so important within your own family. Recipes and methods of cooking are passed down from one generation to the next. This is key to preserving cultural identity. 

There are several ways to baste and season your pig, but the way your family goes about it, makes it special and unique. This is just another recipe that can be passed down from the older and wiser, to the young and inexperienced.

I love reminiscing on the days where my Grandma would teach me how to bake her signature desserts. Or when my Mom would make me stir her sauce so it wouldn’t burn, and that lead me to just finish cooking the dish for her. 

Food is a reflection of our family and it is a part of us. 

[juleswrldd]

Why is Lechon a Celebratory Dish?

So why is Lechon only eaten during celebratory events? 

This large roasted pig is pretty hard to take on with just your immediate family.

Basically it is a lot of food that you and your measly sister can’t finish.

So that is why we invite the whole gang: aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and even Christy from down the block. 

This dish produces so much food that basically a party is formed, and this is why important events like graduation or a job promotion are celebrated with Lechon.

It feeds everyone while also brings everyone together. 

Big accomplishments should be recognized and usually are in the Filipino culture because most of them are events our parents were not able to do being immigrants. 

Immigrant parents do all they can to set up the best possible future for their children, because they were not given the same opportunities. 

So when you finally get your dream job, or move into your dream house, it is going to be celebrated and a party is never fully ready without the food. 

[juleswrldd]

Conclusion

After discussing my research about Lechon, I hope you can answer my research question.

Why is Lechon an important dish eaten during family gatherings and celebratory events?

When an accomplishment needs to be recognized and celebrated

(because you killed it)

Lechon is served because there is plenty to go around. 

If you could not tell by now, Lechon is not the healthiest thing to eat.

So when you come together as a family to indulge in quality time and success for a person, you are also able to indulge in Lechon that is not something you have often. 

The overarching message I hope you take away from this is that food is apart of your culture and it helps tell a story of you. Food is able to create this sense of being within your own culture and it is something I appreciate. Lechon has allowed me to create all these lovely memories celebrating the people I love accomplishing their goals. 

I hope one of your favorite dishes brings you as much happiness as a large, fat, roasted pig does for me. 

Works Cited

Tee, Sharwin. “Lechon in the Philippines: A Guide to Filipinos' Favorite...” Guide to the Philippines, guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/ultimate-guides/philippines-lechon-guide. 

Pysk, Peter. “Understanding Filipino Food Culture through the Eyes of a Foreigner.” F&B Report Magazine, 7 June 2018, fnbreport.ph/features/fb/understanding-filipino-food-culture-through-the-eyes-of-a-foreigner-peterp-20180607/#:~:text=Food%20just%20brings%20people%20together,welcome%20people%20into%20their%20homes. 

Pysk, Peter. “Understanding Filipino Food Culture through the Eyes of a Foreigner.” F&B Report Magazine, 7 June 2018, fnbreport.ph/features/fb/understanding-filipino-food-culture-through-the-eyes-of-a-foreigner-peterp-20180607/#:~:text=Food%20just%20brings%20people%20together,welcome%20people%20into%20their%20homes.