MANILA, Philippines - The town of Balayan, Batangas, exulted the ultimate Pinoy food in the Parada ng lechon, the highlight of its town fiesta.

Thousands of local and foreign tourists flocked to Balayan for the parade. What many visitors didn?t know was that the practice has been held since the early 1900s, said Balayan Mayor Manny Fronda.

?It?s an old thanksgiving custom that started from the then poor Kanluran district (western Poblacion). If someone finished college, got wed, became a lawyer or doctor, recovered from a grave illness and attained good health?there?s always the lechon in the center of merry-making,? he said.

Imeldific ?lechon?

The event focused on Filipino creativity, with some 150 lechon on floats intricately decorated and the roasted pig itself in full costume.

There was the Imeldific lechon on scarlet pumps, Dyesebel lechon with mermaid tail, and angel lechon complete with fluffy wings.

There were working-class lechon: the teller lechon in a booth, yuppie lechon in pressed long-sleeve shirt and tie, lechon driving a tricyle, nurse lechon in scrubs and even a patient lechon in hospital robe.

Kids loved the rockstar lechon strumming a guitar, racer lechon manning a 4x4, biker lechonon a scooter, baby lechon in a stroller and sporty lechon in basketball jersey.

The parade took a 5-km route to the delight of onlookers who didn?t seem to mind the noon heat.

?Basaan?

The parade, held on the feast day of St. John the Baptist, included the traditional basaan. Participants were doused with water, kids played with water guns of all sizes, fire trucks were free to hose down anyone?all in the spirit of fun and thanksgiving.

Most of the lechon were covered in plastic to prevent them from getting soaked, but this also restricted onlookers from seeing them in detail.

In true fiesta fashion, Balayan was filled with townsfolk even if June 24 fell on a weekday. There were street dancers who swayed to novelty songs, fire-eaters and celebrities like Iwa Moto and Andrea del Rosario. Roads were closed, colorful buntings brightened the skies, and tiangge, perya and food booths were in every corner.

?Balayan is a progressive town,? said Fronda. ?We are known for the bagoong Balayan, but we are also produce quality sugar, fish, and, of course, lechon. We are particularly proud of the sauce that makes use of fresh liver.?

?Balayan lechon is manually roasted in heated coals using the old-fashioned way, and leftovers are made into paksiw,? said Vicky Lopez, Balayan Tourism Council head. ?Other fiesta staples include chicken galantina, fish relleno, inihaw na tulingan and a variety of bibingka.?

Veneration

?The practice of parading lechon and the sprinkling of water was a way to venerate and give thanks to the patron for all the blessings received throughout the year,? says hermano Steve Maningat. The Hermandad San Juan Bautista (Brotherhood of St. John the Baptist) has overseen the fiesta celebration since 1959.

Prizes used to be given for the best floats, but Maningat said this caused trouble in the past, so the Hermandad discontinued the practice.

The program for the two-week affair also included masses in the parish church, sports tournaments, dance and singing contests, a band competition and mini-concert, a beauty pageant, a bicycle race and a dog show. Some 50 clubs and local organizations sponsored and participated in the events.

Balayan, a two-hour drive from Manila, expects more visitors to check out the lechon parade next year, said Lopez. The restoration of old houses and a museum are also in the works.