ILOILO CITY—The Filipino steamed rice wrapped in palm leaves known as pusô is synonymous with Cebu and not necessarily associated with Capiz.

But in an award-winning short film, Capiznon chef Francis Dave Lacson Selorio paid homage to the rice delicacy in his native province.

In “The Pusô You’ve Never Heard Of,” the Manila-based chef came home to unwrap the role of pusô in the culinary heritage of Capiz after a debate online erupted.

“It all started with a post. A simple photo of a local delicacy, and suddenly, the internet exploded. Cebuanos were up in arms, claiming this wasn’t their pusô. But what if this difference held a deeper story?” recalled Selorio after winning the grand prize in the first Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Video Awards.

“In this short film, we’re diving into the history and differences between Cebu’s pusô and Panay’s pusô to shed light on why context matters,” added Selorio.

The chef’s deep dive took him to Panay, the neighboring town of the capital Roxas City.

With Teresita Bering and her husband Dodoy of Teresita’s Delicacies, Selorio documented the arduous process of making the Capiz version of pusô.

Unlike in Cebu that is part of the daily meal, the pusô of Panay in Capiz is only served during special occasions.

Another big difference is the taste. The pusô of Cebu is regular white rice while the pusô of Capiz is sweet.

“The pusô of Panay, with its unique weave and specific preparation, is undeniably different from the pusô you might find in Cebu. Yet, at its core, it’s the same: a compact and portable delicacy,” noted the chef.

“That initial controversy highlighted our tendency to focus on differences. But if we take the time to delve deeper and understand the context, we realize that beneath the surface, we are more alike than different,” he concluded in the film.

Celebrity Chef Erwan Heussaff’s FEATR Media premiered Selorio’s award-winning short film as part of the video competition by the Food Writers Association of the Philippines

With his recent triumph, the chef credited his production team, including cinematographer and editor Aron Lara, as well as production assistants Mark Jason Aquines and Joshua Beluso.

The film featured cultural advocate Dr. Harold Ortiz Buenvenida, Tourism Officer Randell Cordenillo, and Panay Municipal Councilor Angel Arches.

The Pusô You’ve Never Heard Of is Selorio’s first win in the video category of the competition named after the late Doreen Gamboa Fernandez, the country’s pioneer food writer.

Last year, Selorio won second prize in the Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Writing Award with his essay “Linagpang: A Grilled Soup” while he was honorable mention in 2021 for his essay “Long Live Sinalay.”