The Slaugher

There are so many things I love about the Philippines and here is just another example of how simple life is (and by the way this happened 2 weekends ago). Anyway it is Sunday morning and I am reading my book instead of getting up; it is about 9:30am. I hear my host cousins, host aunt and uncle and some other people. I take no notice, I live in a compound and I am really enjoying the book I'm reading. After taking a short break I hear they are right outside in front of my house. I meander outside and what do I see but one of the young pigs we are raising in the piggery on the side of my house. He has been drained of his blood, gutted and the head has been removed. The entrails are in a large bowl under the slaughtering table.

I was shocked to see Piglet in such a state. My little host cousin is touching the pigs cheeks and telling me how masarap (tasty) they are. His mom tells me his favorite part of the pig is the face. I am struck but at the same time I am getting used to these situations. Just 5 months ago I got my chance to kill a chicken and pluck it. I didn't have time to cook it but my host aunt would have let me if I was staying. Ok back to the pig... the family was surprised I didn't hear anything. That is not true, I heard the pigs squeal but they do that every time they are fed!!! I am still surprised I missed the killing, it would have been interesting to see. They will be repeating this activity for Tatang and Mico's birthday in November. They asked if I would be interested in killing it and the rest, I said sure why not, it will add to my cultural adaption. So what is the reason for this unexpected slaughter??? Well to sell the pigs to a slaughter house they would not get a good return on the raising of the pig so they will walk around the community and sell it in pieces. Ok sounds good to me even if my host uncle has got a huge knife hacking away at the thigh.

My host mom offered me sisig for dinner the next night and I was not feeling good so I just stuck with the veggies and rice. My host cousin wouldn't tell me what it was exactly. The way it looked put me off of it. I found out from my friend that it was parts of the head and face. I'm just not down with eating the face, ears, hoofs or internal organs. It probably sounds weird since I'm willing to slice and dice Piglet but I did dissect a cat in anatomy class so I have experience compartmentalizing these types of activities.

I'm sure I sound barbaric but I can't help it, while in Rome do as the Romans do. I'm in the Philippines and I find myself following the same credo. Just another crazy Philippines experience :-)