Lasang Pinoy 19: BARRIO FIESTA [ Eat Til You Drop! ]

The Philippines is home to some of the world’s most colourful fiestas. Fiestas have been an integral part of the Filipino culture and communal existence whether in good or bad times --- since time immemorial.

Traditionally, a fiesta always starts with a celebratory mass in the church honouring a patron saint of the barrio, town or city followed by a prusisyon (procession) or parada (parade). Participants are in high spirits. They dance and frolic to the beat of the marching band’s music in celebration and as a gesture of appreciation for all blessings received during the year as well as blessings yet to be received in the days to come. Along the procession or parade route, town folks and spectators would watch in awe the colourful pageantry normally seen only once a year. And as what has been traditionally practiced, the procession would always end where it all began --- the church.

In the past, after the procession, traditional Filipino games like the karera sa sako (sack race) and palo-sebo (greased bamboo pole climbing) are played in the town’s plaza that is usually located in front of the church. Traditional folk dancing is also the main form of entertainment. Today, these traditional activities have been replaced with modern-day events and entertainment programs like variety shows featuring celebrities and artists, singing competitions and even beauty pageants. In some parts of the country, spectators are treated to a mélange of both traditional and modern entertainment.

And since food is an important part of the Filipino culture, no celebration would be complete without fiesta dishes served like the ubiquitous lechon baboy (whole roasted pig), other savoury regional dishes and sweet treats like kakanins (native cakes) indigenous to the place celebrating a particular fiesta. Everyone participates --- spends and feed others, when they can. Others are more than welcome to partake in the feast, eat and indulge til they drop!

Moving on . . . For the 19th Edition of Lasang Pinoy Food Blogging Event, let’s talk about food we normally associate with fiestas. Blog about timeless and traditional family recipes that have been the hallmark these celebrations or how in the passage of time these dishes have evolved into unique culinary treats.

What is Lasang Pinoy?

Lasang Pinoy, which could mean ‘tastes of something Filipino’ or short for ‘the Filipino taste’ is a monthly food blogging event to promote Filipino food. It is a product of e-mail brainstorming sessions of several Filipino food bloggers who thought it was time for a Filipino event in the tradition of Is My Blog Burning. The blogger organisers of Lasang Pinoy and participants strive to make the events reflective of Filipino culture.

Who may participate?

All Filipino food bloggers are highly-encouraged to join the event, be they in the country or abroad.

Non-food bloggers of Filipino ancestry are also invited; no matter how many generations they have been out of the country or who have never been to the Philippines but still identify themselves as Filipino [or part Filipino, married or related to Filipinos].

Entries from other Filipino food and culture enthusiasts are very much welcome. Non-bloggers may also join as long as their entries are hosted in any blog.

How to participate?

All entries must be submitted by 30^th June 2007 at 7:30 pm, Manila time. A round-up will be published shortly after.

For entries [or further quieries], you may send an email to lasang.pinoy@gmail.com with your name, address, the name of your blog, and the permalink to your entry. Please indicate in the subject field Lasang Pinoy 15 [’Entry’ or ‘Query’] for all correspondence to facilitate identification. Or you may also post it via the comment section of this post. For non-bloggers, you can email your article and photo, if you have, with the same particulars. We would be more than happy to host it in one of the sites.

By the way, we’d like to mention/remind the important fact that Lasang Pinoy was created to promote Filipino food! Therefore, as a challenge to everyone, we would love for those of you who have never tried Pinoy food before, to maybe try one of the recipes that I’ve already posted here, or visit one of the Filipino food bloggers site listed here, and here, and here too, find a recipe you like, play around and have a ball with it! After all, it’s fiesta time!

*** Please visit ANG SARAP, this month's HOST for the 19th Edition of Lasang Pinoy called BARRIO FIESTA. ***

Labels: Barrio Fiesta, Filipino Fiesta Food, Lasang Pinoy