Jaro Fiesta : Lechon baboy, Lamb kaldereta and more

The district Jaro, Iloilo celebrates biggest fiesta in the region characterized by the pageantry and the grandeur of the occasion paying homage to Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, the patron saint of Western Visayas.

Every February 2, all roads lead to Jaro as Ilonggos celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Candles in different aspects - religious, gastronomic, enterprising, and more. (For) As early as December the Jaro Plaza is teeming with the Jaro Grand Carnival with activities like carnival games, food stalls, fruit stands and ukay-ukay, among others. It culminates on fiesta day with the coronation of the Fiesta Queen, chosen among the lasses of Jaro families.

For the fourth straight year, I was at the Jamerlan household (thanks Sir Eugene) to celebrate the gastronomic part of the Jaro Fiesta. And just looking at the spread alone, it is indeed a grand way of celebrating the fiesta with one of the prominent Jareño families.

And the gastronomic journey started with these appetizing fresh lumpia - nice blend of spices in the filling, all wrapped up in a thin and almost melts in your mouth wrapper.

Another delectable treat were these empanadas that just wave at you from afar, almost shouting "Pick Me Up"!

The dough was just perfect - crisp and with all the layers and yummy filling just there for you to watch and eat in awe.

There's the Dinugu-an which comes free with the order of lechon from Erning's. With puto manapla, of course!

As always, the lechon baboy is the star of the fiesta with these crisp and crunchy lechon skin - all having a plate of its own.

Not to be "outdone", the lechon meat was so delicious - even just by the looks and aroma of it. Juicy and full of flavour even without the dip - you can taste the real goodness and "freshness" of the pork without the "interference" of so many spices and herbs.

And of course, it won't be a typical Ilonggo fiesta without the "occasional" Ilonggo delicacy - valenciana. Served in almost all Ilonggo events and occasions (thus my terming it as "occasional"), valenciana is among the most popular and most missed Ilonggo dish especially those living abroad. A complete meal in itself having the Go,Grow, Glow food groups in just one bite!

Another delectable Ilonggo dish that appeared on the Jamerlan Fiesta fare was the Pancit Molo - and there's no better than Kapitan Ising's Pancit Molo. The aroma along can already make you feel you've tasted it since it smells rich and delicious. Of course, Kapitan Ising has been doing this for years and they are really from Molo.

The broth has a rich taste of shrimps - essential part of the soup, and the pancit molo balls - tamed yet flavourful meat filling and home-made Molo wrapper that's still intact even after minutes or even hours of floating on the broth. The secret they say is the balls are steamed and just placed in the serving bowl when it it ready to be served (not to be boiled in the soup.)

Here's one you don't usually find during a typical fiesta. It is kaldereta, alright, but its not pork, beef nor goat, its karnero or sheep/lamb. As far as I know the Jamerlans have sheeps wandering in their farm and its a staple during fiestas. Namiiiiit!

There's also Chicken Galantina which is is somewhat like chicken relleno or embutido.

The macaroni salad served both appetizer and dessert for me with fruit cake squares, mazapan de pili and Millionaire's fingers bar as desserts.

It was indeed a feast, a very BIG feast, reflecting the gastronomic grandeur of Jaro and 'til we eat again next year for the annual Jaro Fiesta!

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