Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid is now pushing for the measure seeking to declare the province of Pampanga as the “Culinary Capital of the Philippines.”
Lapid, former governor and a native of Pampanga, said the province deserves the recognition and title following Conde Nast Traveler‘s citation of Pampanga as a food destination in 2022.
Moreover, Angeles City, the senator noted, is also cited as one of Asia’s Best Emerging Culinary City Destinations in 2024.
Pampanga, he pointed out, is noted for its popular dishes such as sisig, kare-kare, adobong puti, adobong balut (fertilized duck egg), camaru (mole crickets), buro (fermented dish of rice and fish or shrimp), humba and morcon, among others.
Lapid also noted that most famous Filipino chefs like Nora and Sandy Daza, Atsing Lillian Lising-Borromeo, Clarita Reyes Lapus of Mama Sita's, Claude Tayag, Sau del Rosario and Gene Gonzales, to name a few, all hail from Pampanga.
But the province, the lawmaker said, is more than just a food destination.
It is a story of resilience, resourcefulness, and creativity, the senator reiterated.
“The tourism of Pampanga depends on our people, our warm welcome to tourists and our delicious dishes. Our hospitality and culinary industry is our main business tourism advantage,” Lapid said.
“That's why we are asking, with all our hearts, help us to give the province of Pampanga the slogan which is the Culinary Capital of the Philippines,” he stressed.