How to cook whole chicken soup:

• Wash the chicken on running water and remove excess fats or other parts if not properly dressed when you bought it from the wet market or supermarket.
• Parts like the esophagus, small feathers and the yellowish oil gland at the base of the tail should be removed.
• Rub chicken with rock salt inside and out to remove the odor. The after a few minutes rinse the chicken on running water and drain. Set aside.
• In a deep pot (be sure the chicken fits inside the pot) , heat oil in a medium heat and saute garlic, onion, carrot and celery until the onion is soft and translucent.
• Add the whole chicken in the pot and enough water to barely cover the chicken.
• Drop the ham bone, pepper corns and potatoes. Let it boil until the scum floats on the surface.
• Gently skim off the scum. Lower the heat to medium-low and cover the pot partially.
• Let it simmer until chicken is cooked. If you are going to add macaroni, put it when the chicken is nearly cooked.
• Season with salt and pepper if desired and adjust the if necessary.
• Serve with calamansi and patis.