In this paper, we present the activities surrounding kasalan (‘wedding’) or baysanan, one of the largest festivities in many communities in Batangas, a province in southern Luzon, celebrating the union of the bride and the groom and, by extension, the consequent union of their families. The term baysanan, used in place of kasalan, gives emphasis to baysan, a kinship term that refers to the relationship between the respective parents of the marrying pair. One day before the wedding ceremony, the couple visits the household of their principal sponsors and performs the sabit (lit. ‘to hang something’) of the pig thigh along with other gifts, solidifying the role that the latter will play in the life of the latter. As the staple food offered to community members taking part in the celebration, the pig takes an important place in baysanan. During the occasion, various dishes made of pork are prepared, such as binutuhan (cooked using the bony parts of the pig) and laman (lit. ‘muscles’). Rekado or sahog (‘additional ingredients’) and seasoning are added, the amount of which implies the complexity of the recipe, reflecting how special the dish is. The feet and legs of the pig are given as gifts to the cooks. The number of attendees may indicate how big the families of the bride and groom are, as well as the relationship that they have established with other members of the community. Towards the end of the event, those who will attend the celebration will gift the couple with a sabog, or any amount of money, in addition to the principal sponsors who are expected to give more substantial sabog. The money that will be raised will then be used by the newlywed couple as funds for starting their own family. For the members of the communities in Batangas, food is an essential part of celebrations such as the baysanan. This paper then illustrates how food, especially that which is shared by members of the community, takes a central role in facilitating community events and in celebrating the passage from one life stage to another of community members.

Co-presenter: Madilene B. Landicho