As much as Filipinos are religiously devout, they are also hopelessly comic. Leave it to them to put a mundane (and hilarious) twist to liturgical celebrations.
St. John the Baptist’s festival on June 24 is observed all over the country with water dousing ritual. Generally, the people do it the socially accepted way like swimming at the beach, pools or springs. Some cities and towns make a career out of this observance, turning dry land into one great Waterworld for a day. But that is even tame in the context of “Parada ng Lechon” (Parade of Spit-Roast Pig) where one place in particular stretches the festivities to comedic proportions. The citizens of this small town don’t find it funny though, it is just how they do San Juan (St. John) traditionally.
Water and Pork Go Well Together
Parada ng Lechon in Balayan (Photo by HaiNgLakbay)
“Lechon” or spit-roasted pig is the traditional star of Filipino “fiestas” (festivals). No Filipino table is ever complete without serving crispy swine. This time, however, the “lechon” is the guest of honor of the festivities.
The people of Balayan, Batangas in Southwestern Luzon celebrate San Juan not only with water dousing but also with parading roast pig around town in a church-permitted procession. From all angles it looks irreverent, but it is serious business among the churchgoers.
Batanguenos (as the natives are called) have a way of preparing “lechon” that locks in all the flavors and preserves the crispiness of the skin. Long before the Spanish arrived, Batanguenos had already perfected the spit-roasting of pigs, a skill that requires patience for 5 slow hours.
Roast Pig Attending Mass
The priest of the local parish commemorates the baptism of St. John with a mass, while rows of “lechon” await outside the church grounds. Once the “lechon” and the mass goers are blessed, the parade commences.
“Lechon” Outfit: From Mischievous to Downright Naughty
Interestingly, the “lechon” is not paraded for public viewing ‘naked’. Sponsors, usually local business, can get as creative as they want in dressing up the ‘lechon’, so expect some crazy expressions of Filipino creativity gone wild. There are ‘lechon’ wearing wigs, sunglasses and raincoats, to lechon donning jerseys and hula skirts complete with pom-poms. If “lechons” are allowed to ride Harleys, it also stands to reason they are allowed to wear superhero uniforms.
Cholesterol-Laden Banquet
Hundreds of “lechon” are paraded in Balayan, Batangas every June 24th, so after the traditional processions, the only thing left to do with the ‘guest of honor’ is to feast on it. There is plenty for everyone to go around, so for tourists who are particularly fond of pork, they may want to do some portion control or risk unpleasant side effects.
It’s Raining Beer
In keeping with the San Juan tradition of ‘baptism’, participants in the “parada” are doused with water and beer! The liquids can sometimes be chilled and even freezing, so tourists who participate in the parade (or are even just watching) need to take getting wet in good humor. After all, despite the “lechon”, the undertone of the occasion is still ‘baptism’.
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Article by Chris
Chris had a passion to contribute to society especially to fellow travelers like himself. He also had a passion for Southeast Asia and frequently visited. While brainstorming ideas, he decided that a travel blog dedicated to his favorite countries, Thailand and Singapore, could be more beneficial than any guidebook. Only one year later did the blog’s success bring in more writers, more countries, and more readers.
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