Cebu has long been known for its crispy, flavorful lechon (roasted pig), but Ilog town in southern Negros Occidental province is now stepping up as a contender.
More than 100 kilometers from Bacolod City, the town has built its identity around the sea, showcased through its Talaba and Kisi-Kisi festivals that celebrate its rich coastal harvest.
Now, the town is carving out a new identity. Over the past two years, Ilog has begun shifting toward gastronomy, with lechon taking center stage a day before its annual Kisi-Kisi Festival on March 25.
Town Mayor John Paul Alvarez told Brigada News FM Kabankalan on Tuesday, March 24, that the town’s emerging Lechon Festival showcases Ilog’s distinct take on the roasted delicacy, which he said can compete with established lechon destinations.
“I’ve been to places like Carcar in Cebu, but our lechon here in Ilog can stand on its own—even without sauce,” Alvarez claimed.
He added that the local government is still assessing the festival’s economic impact before considering any move to formally declare Ilog as the “Lechon Capital of Southern Negros.”
Data showed that 15 groups participated in the second year of the festival.
For local lechoneros, the craft runs deep.
Joseph Gundao, a resident of Barangay Calubang who has been roasting pigs for 25 years, said he learned the trade from his father, who worked at a lechon house in Bacolod in the 1990s.
Gundao said a whole lechon typically starts at around P7,000, with prices increasing depending on demand, while roasting takes about two hours.
He declined to share the specifics of his technique, but offered a simple answer when asked what sets his lechon apart: “Love.”
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.