http://www.blissful-wisdom.com/roast-pig-in-the-philippines.html

When in the Philippines do as the Filipinos do.

The display picture of the roast pig might be a little overwhelming for vegetarians.  But I am hoping your curiosity will get the better of you. For those readers who have never left their home country, I encourage you to grant yourself the favor.  Today's world is easily accessible by airplane travel.

My first visit to the Philippines was to meet my wife's family in their Ilocos Norte farming village.  Many years ago, Veronica's first two homes were washed away by the flooding brought on from the heavy rains of the typhoon seasons.   Just after she went abroad to work as a domestic helper in Singapore at the age of 16, Veronica sent her hard-earned salary back home to begin construction of a new farm house, one built a few feet above the flood plains.

However, when our airplane landed in the Philippines, I discovered that the weather is mostly hot and humid.  Of course being from Vancouver Island I was not acclimatized to the heat.  My next surprise occurred when I was told by my wife that we were expected to feed the village to celebrate our arrival at her home.  This would entail purchasing and slaughtering at least one cow and three pigs! 

Because I am fully committed to my wife and her family's needs, I started adding up the costs in my head!  I began to laugh at my old stingy self...and began to welcome the entirely new adventure.  Funnily enough, the moment I was okay with the village feast thing, Veronica came up with an alternative solution.  She whispered to me that if we rented a large flat deck truck and took just her family and close friends to the beach, we would only need to supply one roasted pig, some cooked vegetables, a little rice and a dessert. Well, land sakes, was I ever happy to hear that idea.  In retrospect, because I was so welcoming about the whole affair, everything seemed to keep falling into place.

The flat deck truck was inexpensive to rent, and one of the relatives fixed up some plastic benches and chairs in the back... to seat the thirty travellers. The night before we departed, some friends of the family prepared and roasted the pig.  The next morning we loaded up the extra food, utensils, and the roasted pig in amongst the guests and headed off for a two hour truck ride to a favored beach site which few had even seen before. 

The photos show the thatched roof shelter where we were shaded during the afternoon feast. There are photos of Veronica's house along with front and backyard photos.  The green fields are where each family plants and harvests their rice crops.  The photo of the fire-pit with the goats milling about, was taken behind the house in the evening time.  You may also notice a shot of the kitchen fire-pit which is used in the household to cook the daily meals.

I am grateful you might enjoy the photos, and possibly feel inspired to travel to an Asian country some day.