Heroes Eat First: Pork Belly Plates for Memorial Day

Team Donyol's
May 25
5 min read

Memorial Day, Filipino Style

In every golden slice of pork belly, there’s a story, a memory, a quiet 'thank you.'

In the U.S., Memorial Day is more than just the unofficial start of summer, it’s a time to pause, reflect, and honor the men and women who gave their lives in service. It’s a day built on gratitude, on stories remembered and retold over backyard gatherings, parades, and shared meals like a crispy pork belly.

And for many Filipino families across America, we put our own flavor into this moment of remembrance. A table set with pork belly and full hearts.

Because let’s be real when Filipinos gather to honor someone, there’s always food. Not just any Filipino food, but something lovingly prepared, passed around, and eaten with bare hands and full hearts. And on this day? It’s the crispy, golden, juicy pork belly, our Cebu Lechon Belly, that often takes center plate.

Why? Because pork belly isn’t just delicious, it’s ceremonial. It’s the crunchy, glistening crown jewel we reserve for celebrations, milestones, and the people who matter most. It’s sacrifice, joy, and love served hot on a banana leaf.

So this Memorial Day, we bring stories to the table. And we honor our heroes not just with a salute, but with the best, most flavorful slice of pork belly on their plate.

an image that represents memorial day heroes

"Heroes Eat First": What It Means

To offer the crunchiest pork belly slice is to say: You mattered then. You matter now. Let us honor you with flavor and gratitude

Before the rest of us dig in, we serve the heroes first.

That’s not just a nice gesture, it’s a deep part of both American tradition and Filipino culture. Memorial Day reminds us to honor those who’ve served, and in Filipino homes, that respect comes naturally. Whether it's Lolo, Tatay, or a cousin fresh from deployment, we make sure they eat first. No questions asked. No debates. Just love.

That’s why this Memorial Day, handing someone the crunchiest slice of pork belly isn’t just good manners, it’s a quiet, powerful tribute. It’s our way of saying: “You served. You sacrificed. This is for you.”

an image of pork belly, a cebu style lechon belly

Pork Belly as Tribute: The Ultimate Plate

Pork belly is not just a dish, it’s a celebration of sacrifice, flavor, and the people we’ll never forget.

In every Filipino gathering, whether it’s a birthday, fiesta, or reunion there’s always that one dish that gets all the oohs and aahs the moment it lands on the table: pork belly. Or to be more specific, the glorious, golden lechon belly.

It’s the bida, the crown jewel. That crispy skin? You can hear it across the room. The juicy meat? Melts in your mouth and straight into your memory. That combo of flavor and crunch? Unmatched.

And on Memorial Day, it becomes more than just food, it becomes a tribute.

Because Cebu Lechon Belly isn’t easy to make. It takes hours to prepare. The marinade, the rolling, the roasting, the patience. It’s a labor of love. That’s why, when we serve it first to our veterans, our elders, or our everyday heroes it speaks louder than words.

It says:

👉 “We honor you with the best.”

👉 “You are the reason we can gather, laugh, and eat in peace.”

👉 “This pork belly , crunch and all, is a thank you on a plate.”

In true Filipino or Cebuano spirit, we give our hearts through food. And when we plate that first, golden slice of lechon belly for someone we love, we’re not just feeding their stomach, we’re feeding their soul.

Simple Ways to Celebrate with Pork Belly on Memorial Day

Let the table be a space for laughter, for remembering, for tears, and yes, for one more crispy bite

Sometimes, the most meaningful moments come from the simplest acts, especially when there’s pork belly on the table. This Memorial Day, let’s bring the Filipino way of honoring to our backyard gatherings with stories, smiles, and a little crackling magic.

🏡 1. Host a Backyard Feast

You don’t need a grand setup. Just fire up the grill, lay out the banana leaves, and bring out that beautiful lechon belly. But here’s the twist: set aside the first plate, the crunchiest skin, and the juiciest cut for someone you want to honor. A veteran, a Lola who raised a soldier, or a family friend who once wore the uniform.

It’s not just food, it’s your heart, served warm.

🏳️ 2. Paper Flags or Name Cards

Want to make it more personal? Add a little love to the table with handwritten name cards or small flags on each plate, honoring the heroes you're remembering today. It could be a name, a short message like “Para ni Papa” or “In memory of Kuya Ben.” It’s simple, but it hits deep.

Plus, it’s a conversation starter, perfect with puso and soy sauce on the side.

📖 3. Storytelling Over Slices

As you all dig into the pork belly, start sharing stories.

👉 “Kinsa imong gi-honor karon?”

👉 “Unsa imong favorite nga memory with them?”

Food has this magical way of opening hearts.

an image of rice and pork belly and atchara

A Slice of Respect: Making It a Family Tradition

Because for us, pork belly isn’t just a dish. It’s our way of saying, “We remember. We honor. We love.

In every Filipino household, respect is not just taught, it’s served on a plate. And on Memorial Day, one simple, powerful way to pass that tradition on is through the first slice of pork belly.

There’s something beautiful about watching a child hold a plate of pork belly and walk it over to their Lolo or Tito who served. It’s a gesture that says: “Salamat kaayo. You go first.” No long speeches needed. Just action, and a bit of crunch.

Let the little ones learn early:

“Unahon gyud ang importante.” (Always let the important ones go first.)

🔁 Turn it Into a Tradition

Make it more than a one-time thing. Every Memorial Day, gather as a family. Assign someone to prepare the “honor plate.” Talk about who you're honoring. Keep it casual, but heartfelt. Like Cebuano hospitality, presko, ug puno sa gugma.

🧓 Why It Matters

Passing on this act reminds the next generation that food isn’t just about eating—it’s about remembering. That the crispiest pork belly isn’t just for the hungriest, but for the heroes.

And when your kids grow up and do the same? That’s when tradition becomes legacy.

A Crispy Salute

To the heroes who served first, we offer the first bite. Let’s eat, for you.

This Memorial Day, while the world fires up their grills and lays out their red, white, and blue napkins, we gather in a way that feels uniquely Filipino, with pork belly on the table, and stories in our hearts.

Because for us, food isn’t just food. It’s how we reflect, how we show up, how we say thank you.

Each portion of lechon belly is more than crispy skin and juicy meat—it’s a crunchy, flavorful tribute to the sacrifices of those who served before us. It’s our way of remembering, our way of celebrating life, love, and freedom with the people we love most.

Let this year be different. Let the pork belly speak for your heart.