The Halad Inasal Festival is the perfect time to try the famous lechon from Talisay City.
Have you ever been to Talisay City? It is historically known as the birthplace of lechon, earning itself the moniker “the lechon capital of Cebu”.
It is believed that the first lechoneros in the Philippines came from Talisay in the 1920s. Since then, the town has become a culinary destination. To this day, many families uphold the lechon tradition by serving their century-old recipes to the masses.
It also paved the way for a yearly festival celebrated by the residents of Talisay City.
Talisay lechon is celebrated through a glamorous street parade and dance showdown.
The Halad Inasal Festival takes place every October. It is a social and religious event dedicated to the city’s patron saint, St. Teresa de Avila.
The main celebration is held on the 15th day of the month, which is the saint’s feast day.
The festival pays homage to the famous delicacy by taking slow roasted suckling pigs as an offering to the saint. This is done through interpretive dances like most festivals on the island.
In October 2024, the festival celebrated its 188th year.
Residents enjoyed a street parade, food bazaars, night markets, concerts, and much more. The religious celebration also consisted of a foot procession, a traslacion, and a fluvial procession.
It’s almost like a mini Sinulog Festival, except it happens on the residential roads of southern Cebu rather than along the busy streets of Cebu City. This is one of the most important events in Talisay, especially in terms of boosting their local tourism.
It spans the neighborhood of Poblacion, where the church of St. Teresa de Avila is located. During the festival, various lechoneras take refuge in the busy streets of South Road Properties (SRP).
STREET PARADE ROUTE
The street dancing competition transpired starting from the church across the barangay hall, all the way to a vacant lot at SRP right across Talisay City Hall.
There were five contingents, each group bringing high energy and flair to hype the crowds along the sidewalks. Their powerful dance moves and soulful musicality breathed life into the quiet residential streets.
Routines were lechon-themed, with many using props and outfits inspired by the making and eating of the Filipino delicacy. Styrofoam pigs, skewers, and dioramas of ingredients gave each dance routine its own personality.
Contingents consisted of students from different high schools of the different barangays in Talisay, while employees of the Talisay City government also participated.
Each group traversed a three-kilometer route with an image of St. Teresa de Avila and several lechon-inspired floats. The floats doubled as audiovans, which played the same musical accompaniment for all the dances.
The parade lasted until the afternoon, with all contingents arriving at SRP early in the evening.
There, each group went on stage to perform their routines for hundreds of viewers. This is also where the coronation night for the Festival Queen was held, with Samantha Faye Plaza crowned as the winner.
TALISAY CITY HALL NIGHT MARKET
The Talisay City Hall Night Market doubles as a venue for budget-friendly food trips.
As part of the festivities, audience members were treated to a night market and food park at the Talisay City Hall Plaza.
Tenants served rice meals and desserts. There were also a few small businesses selling souvenirs and knicknacks to remind you of your visit during the festival.
As the city is mostly known for its lechon, there were several stalls that offered traditionally made Talisay lechon as well.
It was a lively environment where viewers could sit down and enjoy delicious meals together.
OTHER EVENTS
The Talisay City government opened a night market at the Liberation Park a few meters from the church. Although it was a more lowkey spot, several stalls served all kinds of snacks and alcoholic beverages.
Local Cebuano rock bands also performed to create an energetic atmosphere.
Many will agree that the perfect time to visit Talisay City is during the Halad Inasal Festival.
At the Talisay Lechon Market, local lechoneras call out to you to try their delicious lechon recipes.
The market was built in 2022 to house displaced vendors who were affected by nearby demolitions. With its beachside location and affordable prices, it’s a great place to try some of Talisay’s best tasting lechon.
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If there is one thing that best symbolizes Talisay City, it’s definitely lechon. Its reputation around the world is well-earned, and it remains a crucial and integral part of the city’s history because of the Halad Inasal Festival.
This is one event you wouldn’t want to miss, as it puts this delicious dish on the center stage, making it the perfect reason to visit the city and experience its tourism and culture.
