1Marinate pork in soy sauce, garlic, and peppercorns for at least 1 hour.
2In a heavy pot, combine marinated pork with bay leaves and water.
3Bring to a boil, then simmer covered for 40 minutes until pork is tender.
4Add vinegar and brown sugar. Do not stir immediately.
5Let it boil for 5 minutes, then gently stir and simmer uncovered.
6Continue cooking until sauce reduces and thickens, about 15 minutes.
7Serve with steamed rice.
For extra flavor, let the pork marinate overnight. You can also add hard-boiled eggs in the last 10 minutes.