The Pig

Next to fish, the pig is the most important and accessible source of food for Filipinos. It is not unusual in cities and towns outside Manila to find beef in the markets only once a week, but pork is always available as fresh meat or as pork preparations such as longaniza [sausages], tocino [cured pork], lechon [roast pork], and chicharron [cracklings]. Culinary influences from Spain and China (both prodigious pork eaters) and the absence of any religious taboos on food (the Filipinos are predominantly Christian) have made pork an indispensable ingredient in the Filipino diet.