Lechon and Kimchi: Best Food Pair!

I found a new pair of foods which complement each other. These are Lechon and Kimchi.

Lechon is  the most sought-after food in Philippines, especially in Cebu. Cebu is  famous for their lechon because of the way Cebuanos cooked it. After seasoning, the pig is cooked by skewering the entire animal, entrails removed, on a large stick and cooking it in a pit filled with charcoal. The pig is placed over the charcoal, and the stick or rod it is attached to is turned in a rotisserie action. The pig is roasted on all sides for several hours until done. The process of cooking and basting usually results in making the pork skin crisp and is a distinctive feature of the dish.

For people with high blood pressure, be warned though as this dish contains 242g of calories, 14g total fat and 95mg cholesterol. So just eat in moderation.

So, my wife and I were looking for a side dish that will remove us from that "guilt" after eating this dish. Then, we found Kimchi! It was first introduced to us by a colleague. It was a homemade kimchi. So what is kimchi?

Kimchi is a famous dish in Korea. Koreans eat so much of this super-spicy condiment (40 pounds of it per person each year) that natives say “kimchi” instead of “cheese” when getting their pictures taken. The reddish fermented cabbage (and sometimes radish) dish—made with a mix of garlic, salt, vinegar, chile peppers, and other spices—is served at every meal, either alone or mixed with rice or noodles. And its part of a high-fiber, low-fat diet that has kept obesity at bay in Korea. Kimchi also is used in everything from soups to pancakes, and as a topping on pizza and burgers.

Kimchi (or kimchee) is loaded with vitamins A, B, and C, but its biggest benefit may be in its “healthy bacteria” called lactobacilli, found in fermented foods like kimchi and yogurt. This good bacteria helps with digestion, plus it seems to help stop and even prevent yeast infections, according to a recent study.

And more good news: Some studies show fermented cabbage has compounds that may prevent the growth of cancer.

So, the next time you buy lechon, and you want to avoid that "guilt" feeling, try pairing it with kimchi! Just pick a piece of lechon, and try wrapping it with kimchi! Go ahead, try! 

Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) Inaugurated World's Largest Dome

The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) inaugurated on Monday the Philippine Arena -- touted as the world's largest domed arena -- the entire Ciudad de Victoria, and the Philippine Sports Stadium, in Bocaue, Bulacan.

No less than President Benigno Aquino III and Vice-President Jejomar Binay, together with House Speaker Sonny Belmonte, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., and Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, and INC Executive Minister Brother Eduardo Manalo led the opening of the multipurpose complex and witnessed by more than 50,000 ministers, officers and brethren from the Church.

Built by architectural, engineering and construction firms Populous, Buro Happold and Hanwha, the more than $200 million, 55,000-seater Philippine Arena sprawls on the 75-hectare Ciudad de Victoria, which promises to be a one-stop multipurpose complex and even a tourism enterprise zone
.
The Philippine narra inspired, bowl shaped arena stands with two other massive structures, the Philippine Stadium and Philippine Sports Center.

Soon to be built within the complex are the Erano G. Manalo Medical Center and New Era Sports Academy of the New Era University.

In his message, President Aquino said he admires the INC's oneness for the greater good: "Ang INC ay patuloy na kabalikat ng administrasyon sa pagsusulong ng mabuting pamamahala. Ang pagbubukas ng Ciudad de Victoria na may kahulugang Lungsod ng Tagumpay ay sumasalamin sa tagumpay ng Iglesia ni Cristo sa nakaraang 100 siglo."

The President also asked members of the INC to continue contributing to nation building, while thanking the church for its care for others and for supporting his administration's "Tuwid na Daan."

Aquino further recognized the important role of INC in boosting people's faith around the world and for living up to the love and teachings of Christ. Citing a biblical quote about loving one another, the President was greeted with thunderous applause from the brethren.

INC spokesperson Bro. Edwin Zabala, for his part, thanked the partners involved in the development of Ciudad de Victoria, the Philippine Arena alone taking three years to build.

Manalo meanwhile said that the Philippine Arena was built for the "glory of God, for the honor of the country, and the benefit of the Filipino people."

Featured on Discovery Channel’s “Man Made Marvels” in December 2013, the arena’s was built to withstand strong earthquakes and super typhoons. Its design is inspired by narra and banyan trees and with a dome spanning over 3.6 hectares.



(Sun.Star Pampanga)