ILIGAN CITY (PIA)--Ten business owners here showcased their tasty lechon during the Indigay for Lechon (Competition for Iligan Roasted Pigs) 2022 on Sept. 20 at City Public Plaza.

Fiesta sa Bayan (Town Festival) is the theme for the said competition.

This year, the first prize is worth P15,000, P8,000 for the second prize, and P5,000 for the third prize.

Jaime's Lechon Bayug won the first prize, followed by Eljay Food Hub and Lalang’s Lechon House, respectively. P1,500 consolation prizes were also given.

“2010 nidaog mi, after that one wala na mi mupail, until karon napod. Two times niapil mi two times pod mi nakadaog. Sadly akong lola passed away last 2020, we also dedicate this win sa iyaha,” said Mark James Sabitago of Jaime’s Lechon Bayug.

[In 2010 we won. After that, we didn't participate, until now. We participated in the competition twice and we won twice. Our grandmother died in 2020, this is dedicated to her.]

Meanwhile, Jo Marie Delos Reyes of Peping’s Lechon House, said that their recipe is unique because of its juicy and tasty meat. 

“Bahalag walay sauce, lami sya. Juicy jud ang among lechon, maskin sa panit lang,” she said. 

[Without sauce, this is delicious. Our lechon is juicy, the skin is very tasty.] 

She also said that they sell cheaper lechon now as they no longer pay for rent. Thirty kilos of lechon is worth P7,000 while P6,900 for 25 kilos. 

Moreover, Maria Cherisha Calunod of Calunod Lechon House said their lechon is filled with a lot of species that make it tasty. She said they inherited the business from their parents which started in 1971. 

They have joined for five years and bagged first place two times in 2011 and 2019.   

There was also a booth contest where business owners presented their delicious lechon. Eljae’s Food Hub garnered 1st place followed by Ekay's Lechon House and Jaime's Lechon Bayug. They won P15,000, P7,000 and P5,000 respectively. The competition is just one of the major highlights of the month-long celebration of Diyandi Festival in honor of the patron saint Sr. San Miguel. (LELA/ PIA Lanao del Norte)