"Healthy" and "Filipino food" are rarely, if ever, uttered in the same breath. Filipino Advocates for Justice look to change that.

The social services organization hosted Hungry Ka Na Ba? Kain Na!, a healthy Filipino food cook-off held at St. Anne's Church on Saturday, Nov. 13. "Ka na ba" means "are you" in Tagalog; "kain na" means "let's eat!"

The event was fun, festive, filling and informative, promoting nutritious and delicious Filipino food choices.

More than 60 people gathered for the cook-off. Attendees got to taste all of the 13 dishes submitted for the cook-off by amateur and professional chefs. They judged their favorite in four food categories (see winners below).

Dominic Ainza, a former youth counselor for Filipino Advocates for Justice and a current chef at Mercury Lounge in San Francisco, gave a healthy cooking demonstration. In front of a live audience, he prepared a healthy sinigang (a tamarind-based soup) and chicken adobo without any soy sauce, a key ingredient in the traditional poultry dish.

"What makes the dish healthy is the ability to control what's in it," Ainza said. "We're using chicken breast instead of chicken thigh or fatty pork."

The impetus for the event came from a 2008 study conducted by Filipino Advocates for Justice and Asian Health Services. The organizations surveyed 100 Filipinos in Union City, learning that 60 percent of the respondents had a body mass index above 23.

"For the Filipino community that is considered overweight ... because at lower body mass indexes Filipinos are at a higher risk for obesity, diabetes and heart disease," said Christopher Cara, youth services director with Filipino Advocates for Justice.

A body mass index of 25 in adults is considered overweight, according to the Center for Disease Control.

All proceeds from the event will go to Filipino Advocates for Justice to continue their mission of building a strong and empowered Filipino community. The organization organizes constituents, develops leaders, provides services and advocates for policies that promote social and economic justice and equity.

Patch's Ken Guanga gives us the sights and sounds from the Cook-Off. Click "play" on the video above.

Winners:

Dessert - Evelyn Cruz Kendrick for her Baked Casava

Meat and Seafood - Hector Preciado for his Mexipino Kilawin

Noodle - Penny Baldonado for her Sotanghon dish

Veggie Dish - Christine Araneta for her Eggplant Bistek

Presentation - Evelyn Cruz Kendrick