Everyday Christmas at Lydia's Lechon

It's not a complete feast in a Filipino party without Lydia's Lechon!

We all celebrate the wonderful experiences we have with family and friends on the dinner table because food keeps us together, it's a way to bond for us Filipinos. Even if we have visitors from here and abroad, when we see we're the only one eating, we ask others "Tara Kain" and always offer what little things we have on our plate, which is remarkably embedded in our culture, one which I absolutely love!

In fiestas, birthdays, or any party for that matter, we'll try and provide the best of Filipino cuisine. These are the times we think about Lechon, and know that in any celebration, it's just not enough if there's none of it on our table. 

It's like the piece de resistance, people look forward to it as the most important part of the meal, with good reason. The company knows they have to change with the times so when they came out with new items on the menu, I immediately said I'm there!

Now I'm no stranger to their restaurant because I frequently go to their branch in Timog Avenue, which moved in different places over the years (still in the same street) til they built their own place near 11th Jamboree. They also have one in Roces Avenue that I go to pickup things that I adore like their whole Lechon, their Lechon Paksiw and Dinuguan. Their research in a way produced some mean alternatives so you don't get tired of the roast pork, they did it quite good.

Kansi - Beef Shanks boiled for hours in Tamarind based broth and Lemon Grass. It reminds me of Bacolod and Iloilo.

Laing con Lechon - Your usual Laing leveled up with chunks and pieces of smoky pork Lechon and creamy coconut cream. Better if you have steaming hot white rice with it.

Minced Lettuce Wraps - Chopped Lechon and veggies wrapped on fresh lettuce and served with a dip on a side. It's like a toned down version but smoky Korean lettuce wraps.

Cheesy Beef Caldereta - It's a tomato based beef stew mixed with cheese so you get strands of them after pairing with hot white rice.

Sizzling Tofu - Fried Tofu pieces set ablaze on a hot plate. They also have creamy mayo on it, eat it while it's hot. Better that way.

Bangus Ala Pobre - Boneless deep fried Milkfish with tons of golden crunchy garlic and Thai bird chili on top. This was a hit, gone in 60 seconds.

Pritchon Wraps - Lechon twice cooked til crispy wrapped in mini pita bread with veggies and dipped in three kinds of sauces. I love this one with the Hoisin and Sriracha sauce, but you have to eat it while it's hot. The pita discs tend to dry out fast since the place is air-conditioned

Kare Kare con Lechon - Lightly sweet peanut sauce with boiled vegetables, banana heart and Lechon pieces, how can you go wrong with that? Loved how it felt with the crispy skin Lydia's Lechon is also known for, again, make sure you eat it while it's hot!

Buko Pandan - Their version is quite nice because I don't think they use coconut meat but Macapuno which is a different coconut breed, sweeter and a lot thicker. They also have Leche Flan, but I think this is better.

If you are also keen on taking home stuff or bringing pasalubong to your country of origin, you can get their Oyster Sauce, All Around Sauce and Liquid Seasoning. Pretty good stuff.

This new menu is available now in all 25 branches of Lydia's Lechon nationwide. They have plans to expand and get more franchisees next year. If you want your family to enjoy Filipino fiesta food, make an effort to go to their stores and try these new ones because it's a little fusion and won't be too hard to have when you have foreign guests or balikbayans. It doesn't have to be Christmas to enjoy all these food!

You may check out Lydia's Lechon on Facebook for more updates and promos. Their Lechon only costs around 3K++ and can feed around 12 people already, only if you don't eat too much of it though.

KUMAGCOW

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Gil Cuerva Joins Solenn Heussaff at Taste Buddies

Taste Buddies has always been heavily watched especially if you're fond of GMA News TV. I'm a fan of the show, and really had a remarkable time because once you had them on the dinner table, it's just fun and amusing to see them be in the nicest places and eat food like goddesses chilling, I envy them because they don't get fat either LOL.

Now they've got their share of hosts,equally gorgeous women, but this time I think they're experimenting a little and brought in model/actor Gil Cuerva. He is now officially Solenn's co host. We spent the whole afternoon with them on set at a restaurant in Taguig City, in one of Megaworld's Lifestyle Malls called VENICE PIAZZA. Here's our adventure on video.

Of course we won't leave the restaurant without getting to taste their food! Theirs is a mix of Latin cuisine, it shows on the spices they used which reminds me of that Peruvian place I reviewed a couple months ago. It was a familiar flavor, with some Mexican flare!

The food was good, I had memories still stuck in my head with that pizza. I will go back for that.

They had guests Sanya Lopez and cute puppy eyed Martin Del Rosario. I didn't get Sanya's photo because she left in a hurry.

Thank you so much to the good people of Taste Buddies who didn't mind we were there that afternoon.

Their show starts 8:45PM every Saturday so if you're lounging at those hours, go watch the show on GMA News TV and see if Gil makes it a tad better!

KUMAGCOW

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The Philippines as Country of Focus at Busan International Film Fest

FDCP is heading to Busan International Film Festival as the Philippines becomes the country of focus on their 23rd year. It’s also the Philippines 100th year in Cinema and it’s but the right time for us to take the spotlight. The variety of Filipino films that will be showcased is just phenomenal.

FDCP’s Mary Liza Diño says “This is a momentous event for Philippine Cinema. In 2016 I went there for my first film festival. I met partners there to be able to connect with different people, personalities beyond the country. This inspired me to see and find markets not just on the festivals but other collaborations with different stakeholders. The opportunities were all overwhelming. They will feature around 10 films to showcase different facets of the Philippines. They have showcased a lot of Philippine films, old and new. Our 100th year of cinema was recognized and we will be the country of focus. We will be integrated to all the parts of the festival, 6 in exhibition and a few more in the showcase. We will also have an exhibit, all part of this international event. FDCP is now supporting our partners for us to be able to penetrate the international market, nothing beats the support of our fellow Filipinos. Mabuhay ang Pelikulang Pilipino!”

19 Filipino films will be featured at Busan Film Festival. 10 of which will be films of our time, this is part of the classics entitled Cinema as a Response to the Nation, curated by Roy Del Mundo, Nick De Ocampo, NCCA Commission on Cinema’s Teddy Co, Manuniri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (critics) Tito Valiente too. The titles include A Portrait of the Artist as a Filipino by Lamberto Avellana, Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon by Eddie Romero, Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos by Mario O Hara, Ang Panday by Fernando Poe Jr., Cain at Abel by Lino Brocka, Moral by Marilou Diaz Abaya, Himala by Ishmael Bernal, Bayaning Third World by Mike De Leon, Dekada 70 by Chito Roño and Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria by Ramon Siega Zuasola.

They will also be a few titles to be shown on the A Window in Asian Cinema section which includes Citizen Jake by Mike De Leon, Alpha: The Right to Kill by Brillante Mendoza, The Eternity Between Seconds by Alec Figuracion, Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus by Dwein Baltazar, Lakbayan by Lav Diaz, Brillante Mendoza and Kidlat Tahimik and Signal Rock by Chito Roño plus the Wide Angle selection featuring Manila is Full of Men Named Boy by Stephen Lee, Last Order by Joji Alonso, and Land from God (a docu) by Kevin Piamonte. They will also do a book launch for the Centennial Anniversary of Philippine Cinema on October 5, and an exhibit that will run from October 6-11 including the Asian Film Market where they will sell and market their films.

If you want to know more about the Busan Film Festival activities, you may see updates at the FDCP Facebook page facebook.com/FDCP.ph/ and the Busan International Film Festival page at facebook.com/busanfilmfest/.

There is a need for PR help and they will see how they can tap everyone who will join Busan and they will be doing efforts together with other Philippine companies like Regal Entertainment. We hope they do good and make a good impression to the international film industry, to get more opportunities for our film makers and industry partners.

Hope they get that.

KUMAGCOW

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ESPN5 Brings National Cheerleading Championships on Free TV

NCC has been doing this since 2006. True enough, our country has leveled up as far as the sport of cheer is concerned. In their season 14, they’re raring to make you feel their theme of “WE ARE FEARLESS”. Imagine, this league will have 300 teams vie for the championship at the 2019 Nationals, doing all things possible to achieve that in CHEER, DANCE and DRUMLINE, choosing who’s the best among the best on March 2019 at the Mall of Asia Arena. All of these will be shown on ESPN5, and includes the regional qualifiers. This is also part of ESPN5’s mission to elevate Philippine sports so they could bring it to the world. This will all be done to groom those who will eventually join Team Pilipinas as they battle it out in competitions from Asia, Oceania, the World Championships too which will be held in Orlando, Florida on 2019. ESPN5 again will be part of their journey, following them all throughout Season 14 and air The Nationals live on FREE TV.

NCC Founder Carlos Valdes says “NCC requires you to face anxiety, nervousness, doubt, but you all have to be fearless. This is cheerleading!”

TV5 President Chot Reyes adds “Fearless” also defines ESPN5’s mission as we support every Pinoy athlete as they come and represent the country on a world stage, it’s why we want to continue our partnership with NCC, to get more world class content on TV5 and see the journey of Team Pilipinas this Season 14. In a very real sense I am the head cheerleader and we can identify with fearless, we have repositioned, we have courage and needed fearlessness. I think we are going to even do better last year because we’ll include the regionals. Being an athlete in college, I know how important this is as the 6th man. This will take us to great heights, on to the world championships! Our job is to bring this to you, hopefully would also generate medals in SEAGames, Asian Games and the Olympics.”

This is the largest Cheerleading league in the country and this is the culmination of the best schools, ESPN5 and NCC will start on the regionals starting October 6. They will be covering these competitions in live streams, social media and TV. If you want to know more, logon to their website NCCPhilippines.com.ph.

KUMAGCOW

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