King Sue Sweet Ham: Your Sweetest Gift this Season

Here in the Philippines, Christmas starts early September until January, making it the longest Christmas in the world. While the rest of the world is anticipating other holidays like Thanksgiving and Halloween, Christmas songs are already played in local malls and in radio stations. All these start as early as September 1, extending until January 6 during the Feast of the Three Kings.

In no other country is Christmas more special than in the Philippines. Here, it’s more than tradition—it’s so ingrained in every Filipino’s hearts that as soon as September arrives, well-loved Christmas songs start to be played and some even begin to put up small decorations that reflect the yuletide season.

An important part of that, of course, are the gatherings with family and friends. And for this particular season, the highlight will always be the Christmas ham, a tradition King Sue Ham & Sausage Co. Inc. understands very well.

Its founder, Mr. Cu Un Kay, came to Manila from China as a 12-year-old on board a vessel. Even at a young age, he knew the importance of hard work and was employed as a cook by his uncle who owned a cold storage facility in Echague. There, he met a German who later taught him to manufacture hams and cold cuts.

Using this knowledge, Mr. Cu Un Kay started his own business and sought to perfect the meat production process using only aluminum cauldron over three adobe stones. He concentrated on producing hams, especially the Bone-in-Chinese Ham, which his business became known for.

At the end of World War II, the brand “King Sue” was born. “KING”, the family surname, implies royalty and enormity while “SUE”, means small in Fookien. The two names, while seemingly contradicting, actually tells the story of how Mr. Cu Un Kay may have had modest beginnings, but his dreams and ambition are big.

The same could be said of Christmas gatherings in the Philippines. No matter how big or small, Filipino gatherings have a way of making one feel like royalty and King Sue exists to provide Premium Quality processed meats that deliver a taste fit for a king, a queen, a prince or even a princess.

King Sue has a wide variety of Premium Christmas Hams that are sure to suit every palate, budget, and preference from the popular Chinese Ham Bone-In, Pina Ham, Sweet Ham, Hawaiian Ham, to its Pear-Shaped Ham. “There’s a ham for everyone regardless of age, gender, and lifestlye. It can also be enjoyed not just during the Christmas season but all year round as well,” says Romana Go, Marketing Manager for King Sue.

It is no surprise then that Filipinos who wish to make a lasting impression to special people in their lives choose to either serve these during breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and most often give these as gifts during the season.

Indeed, King Sue is as part of Filipino Christmas tradition as the quezo de bola and the various lucky round fruits and its quest to satisfy the Filipino taste and their ever-changing lifestyle will always be at its core values.