FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

The Feast of San Jose is celebrated every March 19 with a big fiesta in places honoring the saint be it a city, town or barangay. But the one I experienced a few weeks ago was more than just the gastronomic side - it was a feast alright but in a different setting. Not just because it was held during breakfast time but it also included a traditional ritual which brought back a lot childhood memories. I joined the feast at the Camiña Balay nga Bato in Arevalo on that day and it brought the memories of yesteryears. I was no more than 10 years old when I witnessed the "San Jose" ritual in my lola's house in Molo. I can still vividly remember the "role-playing" which had elements of eating, washing and "kissing".  As explained by Sir Eugene Jamerlan (of the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council), this ritual is  a tradition in rice-producing places like Iloilo. It is a sort of welcoming San Jose and his family into the household to...

In the Philippines particularly in rice producing provinces like Iloilo, many families keep a tradition in which an old man, a young lady, and a small boy are chosen from among the poor and are dressed up as St. Joseph, the Virgin Mary, and the child Jesus, respectively. They are then seated around a table set with the family's best silverware and china, and served a variety of courses, sometimes being literally spoon-fed by the senior members of the family, while the Novena to St. Joseph is recited at a nearby temporary altar. (from Wikipedia ) March 19 marks the celebration of the Feast of San Jos e. I was able to again join the celebration at the Camiña Balay nga Bato in Arevalo and it brought the memories of yesteryears. I was no more than 10 years old when I witnessed the "San Jose" ritual in my lola's house in Molo. I can still vividly remember the "role-playing" which had elements of eating, washing and "kissing".  After a morni...

The district of La Villa Rica de Arevalo is home to the 3rd oldest image of Sto. Niño in the Philippines and celebrates its patronal fiesta every 3rd week of January. It's during the Ati-atihan and Sinulog Sunday that Villanhons "eat, drink and be merry" - a prelude to Iloilo City's biggest street party - Dinagyang, which happens the following Sunday. Among the best tourist attractions in Iloilo City can be found in the district of Arevalo - the century-old Camiña Balay nga Bato. Considered a "living museum", the house hosts a curio shop where assorted Panayanon products are on display and for sale, a hablon weaving corner, a vast collection of antiques - furniture, vases and memorabilia of the Avanceña family, among others are on display.  And the house's antiquity also provides a great setting for gastronomy as it is very famous for its native tsokolate served with old world charm. But the fiesta of Arevalo makes house come alive likened to...