The College of Home Economics Foundation Day became a celebration of food, family, and Filipino heritage as the Department of Home Economics Education (DHEEd) presented a cooking demonstration and tasting of Kinulob na Manok on Friday, October 9, 2026, at the Alonso Hall Lobby.

Held as part of the day’s closing activities, the event invited students and guests to gather around a dish that carries generations of family memory. The demonstration was led by Asst. Prof. Ma. Afrecita D. Nieva, who shared the story and preparation of the Nieva family’s heirloom recipe. 

A recipe rooted in remembrance

Shared by the Nieva family, Kinulob na Manok was traditionally prepared on November 1, All Saints’ Day. The family’s account traces the recipe to Fortunato “Lolo Tato”, remembered as the family’s finest cook. Dionisia “Lola Dune” later taught it to her daughter-in-law, Eufemia Dimacali, who continued making it for the family each year.

The dish became part of a day spent honoring loved ones in Marilao, Bulacan. After returning home, the family would gather to enjoy the long-awaited meal. Its warm broth was paired not with rice, but with monay.

Kinulob na Manok is neither nilaga nor tinola. Its distinctive character comes from its ingredients and slow-cooking method—and from the memories surrounding its preparation. The family’s tradition continues today through the next generation.

Slow cooking with food prepared with care

The recipe offered guests a chance to learn about a home-cooking practice shaped by care and patience. Chicken—ideally native chicken—is layered in a pot with chicken liver and gizzard, pork innards, Chorizo de Bilbao, cabbage, Baguio pechay, leeks, white onion, fish sauce, pepper, and water.

After the ingredients are washed and arranged in a pot, water is added to the desired amount. Banana leaves are used as pantakip or pangkulob and are placed over the ingredients and secured to keep the pot tightly covered  as they cook slowly until tender. The dish is then cooked slowly until the meat and other ingredients are tender. The chicken, vegetables, and broth may be served together or separated into different containers. 

The process reflects the care behind the recipe: choosing and preparing the ingredients, allowing time for slow cooking, and passing on the knowledge of how the dish is made. At the demonstration, attendees had the chance to encounter this family tradition not only through its story, but also through its preparation and tasting.

The gathering offered a reminder that recipes can hold more than instructions: they can preserve family histories, honor loved ones, and bring people together. Through the DHEEd’s presentation, Kinulob na Manok became a meaningful part of CHE Foundation Day 2026.