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Cebu’s lechon is always the star and center piece of Filipino buffets in every occasion. The word “lechon” came from the Spanish term that refers to a roasted suckling pig.

Naga City Mayor Valdemar M. Chiong (in white suit) and Pagtambayayong Foundation Inc. President Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez lead the ribbon cutting of La Familia’s Lechon stall inside the New Naga Public Market.
Naga City Mayor Valdemar M. Chiong (in white suit) and Pagtambayayong Foundation Inc. President Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez lead the ribbon cutting of La Familia’s Lechon stall inside the New Naga Public Market.

This well-loved dish has inspired the 24 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program partner-beneficiaries in Naga City, Cebu to venture into lechon business for their group enterprise.

“Dili basta-basta ang mga baboy nga gipang-lechon namu kay kini organic man ug wala ni kemikal nga gipang-inject (Our pigs are no ordinary pigs because these are organic and they are not chemically injected),” said Gever “Bonog” Encabo, a Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiary and the one who leads the group enterprise.

“Ang organic hog raising usa ka natural nga pamaagi sa pagpadako sa mga baboy ug pinaagi niini mas himsug ug dili ingun katambok ang baboy (Organic hog raising is a natural way of raising pigs and this means rearing healthy and leaner livestock),” added Gever.

With this organic hog raising, consumers are assured that pigs are free from antibiotics and growth hormones.

Gever said that they called their group as Pantawid La Familia’s Lechon to highlight the sense of belongingness among the members of the group.

“Even though we are not related by blood, we treat each other as family because our common goal is that we will all uplift our economic status,” Gever said in Cebuano dialect.

“Dako among pasalamat nga samtang ga-eskwela among mga anak ug naay suporta ang Pantawid, kami sad nga mga ginikanan gitabangan sa Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP)  (We are grateful that while our children are in school as they are supported by Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, we, the parents are also being helped by the SLP),” Gever said.

SLP is a community-based capacity building program that increases the economic opportunities of the families through the different modalities that it offers such as skills training, seed capital fund, pre-employment assistance fund, and the cash for building livelihood assets.

It is implemented through the Community-Driven Enterprise Development Approach which equips program participants to actively contribute to production and labor markets by looking at available resources and accessible markets.

The group enjoys the privilege of being the only lechon stall inside the New Naga Public Market and the members are very optimistic that they will reap the seeds of their hardwork.

Members of Pantawid La Familia’s Lechon pose for a group photo during the group’s livelihood launching. With them is SLP’s Project Development Officer II Mr. John Paul Peca (extreme right).
Members of Pantawid La Familia’s Lechon pose for a group photo during the group’s livelihood launching. With them is SLP’s Project Development Officer II Mr. John Paul Peca (extreme right).

Gever encouraged everyone to buy their organic lechon because this is not only delicious, they will also help Pantawid partner-beneficiaries like him who strive hard to stand on their own. ###

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