Exploring The Food and Cultural Significance of Native Chicken in Ilocos Sur
Exploring The Food and Cultural Significance of Native Chicken in Ilocos Sur
1, March 2022
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Abstract: Native chicken has inspired contributions to culture, art, cuisine, and religion over the
millennia. This study was conducted to explore the food and cultural significance of native chicken in
Ilocos Sur. It employed a quantitative type- descriptive research design and qualitative methods of
research utilizing an interview schedule supported to dig deeper into the food and cultural practices in
the use of native chicken. There were 108 respondents composed of chicken growers and native chicken
consumers. Based on the findings of the study, it is concluded that the majority of the native chicken
respondents are male, with age ranges from 41-50 years old, married, with 4-6 family members, self-
employed, and have a monthly income below 5,000.00. Native chicken is originally grown, unique taste,
low-fat content, leanness, and pigmentation characteristics of the meat are considered the buying
preferences of consumers while tinola and adobo are still the consumers’ food preferences. The
consumption of native chicken is an important source of high-quality protein food and its utilization
largely depends upon the occasion it serves. Native chicken has socio-cultural, religious, and medicinal
significance among rural communities and also occupies a very special place in the ancient culture and
traditions of the Ilocano. Dressed native chicken either fresh or frozen is recommended for
commercialization. A need for dissemination of the importance of native chicken in terms of food and
buying preferences. Native chicken has a brilliant contribution to culture, art, cuisine, science, and
religion. Therefore, it necessitates being preserved. New cooking or value-added native chicken
products to be developed as additional income or for commercialization.
Keywords -Cultural beliefs, folklores, food preferences, native chicken, practices, quantitative method
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION This means that this group is mature enough
Table 1 presents the demographic to do the work, particularly in the preparation of
Characteristics of Native Chicken Respondents in foods and some rituals. In terms of status, the
Ilocos Sur. Most of the respondents are female (63 majority of respondents are married (69 or 63.89%).
or 58.33%). This may be because the males are busy Married individuals tend to be concerned about how
in their farming since most of them are farmers. to prepare food and provide the basic health needs
Female respondents from the 2nd District of Ilocos of the family. As regards the number of family
are out-of-school youth and the rest are members of members, most of the respondents belong to the
the 4P’s beneficiaries. Female respondents on the ranged of 4-6 members (51 or 47.22%) followed by
other hand are mostly prefer foods for the family 1-3 (28 or 25.93%) family members. This indicates
and practiced some cultural practices in the use of that the native chicken respondents belong to an
native chicken. As to age level, most of the average number where most of the families can
respondents belong to the age bracket of 41-50 years afford to maintain a living either in economic or
(33 or 30.56%) followed by the age bracket of 31- social well-being. Meanwhile, most of them are
40 (25 or 23.15%). self-employed indicating that the respondents are
capable of earning a living by generating income
through their initiatives and perseverance.
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Asia Pacific Journal of Management and Sustainable Development
ISSN 2782-8557 (Print) | Vol. 10, No. 1, March 2022
Sanidad et. al., Exploring the Food and Cultural Significance of Native Chicken in Ilocos Sur…
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Lastly, most of the respondents are earning Table 2. Dishes prepared for native Chicken
a monthly income with an average of lower than Name of the Recipe Frequency Rank
5,000.00. According to them, the amount they Pinaupo so Asin (Broiled) 7 10
earned is just enough for the family. Aside from Tinola 69 1
this, they are raising animals and planting Adobo 65 2
vegetables in addition to the earnings derived from Sapsapuriket 47 3.5
other forms of farming activities. Linambong (Boiled) 8 8.5
Pinikpikan 6 11
Native Chicken Preferences Sinampalokan 12 6
Most of the respondents claimed, they are Ginataan 11 7
buying native chicken (65 or 60.19%), and the rest, Binakol 1 13.5
are raising native chicken (43 or 39.81%). This Kalderata 8 8.5
denotes that there is a need to introduce the raising
Sarabasab 1 13.5
of native chickens in the different municipalities.
Inihaw ( 30 5
The introduction of native chicken on free-range is
Kilawen (Fresh) 4 12
self-sufficient and healthier where they are free to
look for their food. Prito (Fried) 47 3.5
When asked about their food preferences,
they claimed that all the family members eat native This indicates that eating native chicken
chicken (88 or 8148%) and the rest of the during the postnatal period “tanggad” particularly
respondents reacted that they are not eating native serving native chicken soup to mothers is believed
chicken (20 or 18. 52%). There are several reasons to help promote lactation. [11]. In addition, the meat
why the respondents are buying or eating native of the hen is also served to women who underwent
chicken. According to them, they buy or eat native labor recently and it was believed that the meat is
chicken because it is organically grown, has a not only easy to digest but also helps lactating
unique taste, has low-fat content, leanness, and mothers recover quickly [12].
pigmentation/color characteristics of the meat. They Aside from this, the native chicken was also
also prefer to buy or eat either the rooster or the hen prepared, cooked, and served after planting rice
and usually prefer to cook native chicken depending “lamusa” and this is rank no. 2, it can also be
on its availability. consumed as food to restore strength after sickness
and a sign of hospitality was rank no.3.5
Food Preferences of Native Chicken respectively. The native chicken was also served as
The native chicken was prepared and meals to visitors during special occasions like fiesta,
cooked locally for family occasions or ordinary weddings, birthdays, etc. This indicates that as part
meals served daily. Dishes prepared using native of Filipino culture and Filipino traditions
chicken were tinola followed by adobo, particularly in the celebration of different colorful
“sapsapuriket” and “fried” and the least prepared festivities, food served is one of our cultural
were “binakol” and “sarabasab”. These native practices to show our love, admiration, closeness,
dishes were common as family food, particularly and hospitality to visitors. Locals also believe that
served during the meal. consuming native chicken at a wedding ceremony
will remove any bad luck for the couple [13]. This
Food Cultural Beliefs & Utilization of Native Chicken also coincides with the findings of [7], which stated
In terms of food, cultural beliefs and how native that chickens are also sacrificed as part of the Nandi
chicken was utilized were also known during the panduga (hill broom festival) used before
interview. The respondents also stated that native harvesting hill broom
chicken is being consumed as a dish for mothers
during the postnatal period as rank no. 1.
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Asia Pacific Journal of Management and Sustainable Development
ISSN 2782-8557 (Print) | Vol. 10, No. 1, March 2022
Sanidad et. al., Exploring the Food and Cultural Significance of Native Chicken in Ilocos Sur…
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Table 3. Food Cultural Beliefs and Utilization of Native Chicken
Event Iloko term used to name the activity Frequency Rank
Prenatal Sultop (egg) 17 11
Postnatal Tanggad 49 1
Wedding Inlamao wenno kinilnat 20 9
Restoring strength after sickness Pagpapigsa ti masakit 35 3.5
Birthday Kasangay 33 5
Sending off Panagparubuat 13 10
Hospitality Panagsangaili 35 3.5
Fiesta Panagfiesta 30 7
Thanksgiving Panagyaman 28 8
Before planting Kuskusip 32 6
After planting Lamusa/Agpakpak/Agmayo 37 2
Cultural Beliefs and Practices in the use of Live someone from the spell of witchcraft and black
Native Chicken magic [12]. This is also followed by utilizing native
Native chicken breeds have significant chicken during the wake/burial. Any type of native
socio-cultural values and religious significance chicken is sacrificed after three days of the demise
[14]-[16] among rural communities, and a few of any family member if one member of the family
religious taboos associated with consuming chicken gets sick. Native chickens are also cooked and
meat and eggs to improve breeds’ lack. The use of served to mark the start of agriculture activities as a
native chicken breeds is highly valued locally for new business-like harvesting, cultivating the land,
local rituals and festivals. Due to its usefulness, the and performing other activities on the agricultural
price of desi- chicken (a native breed to India) is land. Other uses of native chicken either black or red
double the price at local markets during festivals. color roosters offer a chicken to the local deity in
Depending on the native chicken breeds as per the case someone gets sick or has bad luck. In addition,
situation and context of local rituals/festivals [7]. the indigenous communities of the region not only
Table 4. consume native chicken and eggs but also use them
Cultural Beliefs in the use of Live Native Chicken extensively in rituals to appease Gods, the spirits of
Event F R ancestors, and nature and protect against demons
Wake/Burial 29 2 and evil spirits [7].
Cultivating the Land 19 4 Table 5. Recommendations for native chicken
Harvest 22 3 products for development
Agricultural ritual performed in the rice Products Recommended F R
17 5
fields after the transplanting of rice
Dressed (Fresh or frozen) 49 1
Offering to the dead ancestors for a
3 12 Roasted/Barbecue 35 3
bountiful harvest
Offering during masses 13 8 Native chicken cubes/broth 41 2
Folk Healing (witchcraft) 53 1 Tinola mix 32 5.5
Newly acquired vehicles 15 7 Bottled/canned native chicken adobo 20 10
Spirit living in the tree, rocks, rivers, etc 6 9.5 Native Chicken Tucino 26 7
Protection from evil elements 2 13 Native Chicken Longganiza 32 5.5
Pre/newly build a structure 16 6 Native Chicken Embutido 23 8
Doing any improvement in an area 6 9.5 Native Chicken Ham 20 10
Rituals during delivery 5 11 Native Chicken Nuggets 21 9
Based on the result of the interview, Sapsapuriket in Bottle 33 4
analysis of data reveals that live native chickens Native Chicken Etag 9 14
were sacrificed and used mostly for folk healing, Pinikpikan 11 13
traditional medicine for witchcraft, and black Chicken feet/wings 18 12
magic. Either black or red (old) is used to extricate
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Asia Pacific Journal of Management and Sustainable Development
ISSN 2782-8557 (Print) | Vol. 10, No. 1, March 2022
Sanidad et. al., Exploring the Food and Cultural Significance of Native Chicken in Ilocos Sur…
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Recommendations for the Development of undertake production studies to address the above-
Native Chicken Products cited problems.
When the respondents were asked about
their recommendations, most of them suggested that CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION
dressed chicken either fresh or frozen be available From the abovementioned results, the
in the market is rank no. 1, followed by the majority of the native chicken respondents are male,
development of value-added products like native ages ranging from 41-50 years old, married, with 4-
chicken cubes/. broth, native chicken 6 family members, self-employed, and have a
barbecue/roasted, “sapsapuriket” in a bottle, tinola monthly income below 5,000.00. Respondents’
mix, and native chicken longganiza. The least is the buying preferences for native chicken are originally
native chicken etag. grown, have a unique taste, have low-fat content,
leanness, and pigmentation of the meat while tinola
Table 6. and adobo are the consumers’ food preferences.
Problems encountered in the use of Native Chicken Native chicken consumption helps individuals to
Problems F R obtain high-quality protein food and its utilization
The price of native chicken is 51 2 largely depends upon the occasion it serves. Native
expensive chicken has socio-cultural, religious, and medicinal
The budget is not enough to buy 18 4 significance among rural communities and also
native chicken occupies a very special place in the ancient culture
A limited supply of native chicken in 59 1 and traditions of the Ilocano. The supply of native
the market/difficult to find chicken in the market is limited.
No dressed native chicken meat 35 3 A need for dissemination of the importance
Difficult to cook native chicken 11 6 of native chicken in terms of food, folk healing, and
Small sizes compared to the usual 12 5 buying preferences. Native chicken has great
/available in the market contributions to culture, art, cuisine, science, and
religion. Therefore, it necessitates being preserved.
Problems Encountered in the use of Native New cooking or value-added native chicken
Chicken products to be developed as additional income or for
The next table displays the problems commercialization. Dressed native chicken either
encountered in the use of native chicken. Based on fresh or frozen is recommended for
the respondent’s view, limited supply of native commercialization. Raising native chicken catering
chicken in the market/difficult to find as rank no. 1, to the demand of customers can be attained by
followed by the price is high and no dressed native proper dissemination of the importance of native
chicken meat found in the market as rank no. 3. The chicken production. Though the research was only
least problem encountered is that native chicken is limited to the food and cultural significance, another
difficult to cook. study is recommended to focus on the qualitative
Many consumers are not buying native aspects, particularly on the lived experiences of the
chicken because of the meat texture (dry and tough) participants.
and high price despite having a good flavor and
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Asia Pacific Journal of Management and Sustainable Development
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