FOOD TRIP 4: Pista sa Baryo

Guess I’d been a city rat too long. I made the mistake of pigging out at the first house we went to and didn’t have room anymore for more food and lots more food on the second and third houses. Aaaargh! Welcome to the pinoy fiesta, the ultimate show of celebration and lavishness.

I am currently working in one of the most impoverished provinces in the country (think of rows and rows of old, dilapidated nipa houses everywhere!) and yet today, this remote fishing village looks like a washed-up whore in full garish make-up. Banderitas and streamers and flags all compete for color, along with deafening sound systems and drum and bugle corps and fireworks. And the food… wow, you wouldn’t think majority of the people in the village actually go hungry the rest of the year!

People here certainly take their fiesta seriously. Balikbayans sporting blond hair and dripping with outsize jewels come home specifically for the occasion. Long lines of hungry visitors lead to the Hermana Mayor’s house who have to feed everyone! And I mean anyone who comes through their door! And this lasts for three days minimum! I wonder how much they actually spend for the entire circus.

And how much debt they rack up.


Mawawala ba ang lechon?