Masbate vlogger turns lechon baka into viral 'Lechon Tiger'

A unique twist on a Filipino food staple has captured the attention of netizens after a vlog featuring a "lechon tiger" went viral online.

As seen in Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras" on Wednesday, the lechon tiger is actually a lechon baka with bright orange color and dark stripes to resemble the big cat.

The eye-catching dish was prepared by Joel Alcaraz, a vlogger from Burias Island in Masbate, as a special birthday surprise for his wife.

"Gusto ko po 'yung kakaiba siya. Gusto ko na magmukhang tiger ang kanyang kulay," Joel said.

To achieve the vibrant orange hue, Joel said he used food coloring along with other ingredients to enhance the flavor. For the stripes, he applied squid ink, assuring viewers that it is safe to eat.

"Nilagyan ko ng coloring tapos meron siyang ingredients na para mas sumarap. Pinunasan ko po ng ink ng pusit. Nakakain po 'yun, 'yung ink ng pusit," he said.

"Nung makita ng misis ko, 'Wow! Ang ganda naman nito!'" Joel added.

Lechon has long been a staple in special occasions across the Philippines, deeply embedded in the country's culture and cuisine.

The term "lechon" is derived from the Spanish word "leche," meaning milk, originally referring to young pigs that were still nursing.

However, a food historian said that the tradition of roasting meat in the Philippines predates Spanish colonization.

"It has roots in pre-colonial Filipino cooking. Necessity was the mother of inventions, so there's a need to come up with a roasted meat to satisfy the hunger," said Jayson Antonio, local researcher and historian.

"Food at that time is generally considered to be very bland so 'yung smokey taste niya coming from the open flames is actually adding flavor to the lechon," he added.

Later on, Chinese traders influenced roasting techniques, introducing new methods and flavor combinations. —Jade Veronique Yap/MGP, GMA Integrated News