Eat all you can

A police officer from Cavite City who ventured into the lechon business became famous not only for his roast pig but also for helping the needy.

Rafael Maclang started his homemade lechon business in 2019 and roasted the pigs himself using freezer-size gas ovens when he was off duty from policing. His Pulit-chon store, however, suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic and he was forced to close shop.

In 2023, Maclang reopened his lechon business using the downpayment of one customer as capital, according to the GMA TV show Good News (GN). With help from social media, the business became more known and drew more customers.

Maclang also endeared himself to his neighbors because of his generosity. GN showed him giving money to an old ambulant vendor and to strangers who needed to buy medicines for a sick relative. He also gave money to an old woman for capital for her balut business, GN reports.

Maclang said he just wants to help the needy and share his blessings, and because it makes him feel good, according to GN.

Meanwhile, a woman in her 20s from the rural village of Qingfu in Chongqing, China asked social media users for help in slaughtering pigs for a traditional community feast before the Chinese New Year.

“Can anyone help me? My father is old. I am worried that he can’t handle these pigs,” read the 9 January post on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, by the woman named Daidai, BBC reports.

She promised that those who would help her would be treated to a pork banquet.

Daidai’s post not only attracted more than a million likes, the following day thousands drove to her village causing a traffic jam. Drone images showed carloads of people entering Qingfu, BBC reports.

She did not expect more than a dozen volunteers to help slaughter and roast only two pigs. It would not be enough to feed the many visitors in town so tourism officials donated more pigs to meet the huge demand, while small restaurants served crowds of guests in outdoor seating areas, according to BBC.

The community banquet lasted until 12 January and fed some 2,000 diners. It was watched live online by more than 100,000 viewers and registered 20 million likes on Douyin.