Pork BBQ

The smell of sizzling pork skewers filled the air, mingling with the chatter of the neighborhood gathering in the cool evening breeze. At the heart of the backyard, a makeshift grill—an old oil drum cut in half—was glowing with hot coals, carefully tended by Tito Ben, the unofficial BBQ master of every family event.

Every stick of pork was a labor of love. Marinated for hours in a secret mix of soy sauce, calamansi juice, brown sugar, garlic, and a touch of banana ketchup, each piece was skewered meticulously to ensure the perfect balance of meat and fat. Tito Ben swore by his method, and no one dared argue—his pork BBQ was legendary.

“Flip it now!” called Tita Liza from her perch by the cooler, worried the caramelized edges might burn. Tito Ben waved her off with a laugh, turning each skewer with a practiced hand. The fat sizzled, dripping onto the coals, creating bursts of flame and releasing a sweet, smoky aroma that made everyone’s stomachs growl.

Kids hovered nearby, clutching plates and waiting for the first batch. Tito Ben handed one stick to the boldest child, who immediately bit into the tender, sticky meat and grinned in approval.

“Best ever, Tito!” the child declared, mouth full.

The grown-ups cheered with bottles of beer raised high, and the BBQ became the centerpiece of the evening. Everyone agreed it wasn’t just food—it was the taste of shared stories, laughter, and love grilled to perfection.

By the time the last skewer was eaten and the grill had cooled, the backyard was alive with memories, proving once again that good pork BBQ wasn’t just about the recipe; it was about the people who made it special.