There’s more to Pampanga than food
By Tonette Orejas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:22:00 07/01/2008
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Kapampangan used a new tack to promote Pampanga’s arts, crafts and culture and to touch base with their kabalen (province mates).
They organized a real feast right in the metropolis. That’s “Pistang Kapampangan” and it happened in Salcedo Market in Makati City on June 21.
In both goals, the score was very successful, said Everybody’s Café’s Poch Jorolan, who organized the 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. event together with the Foundation for Lingap Kapampangan Inc.
For one, many buyers trooped even as Typhoon “Frank” started lashing Metro Manila, lapping up every item offered for sale. For another, Metro Manila-based Kapampangan showed up, watching cultural performances and craft demos, lingering for conversations and reminiscences.
‘Nothing political’
“The patriotism of being a Kapampangan was very high during the event,” said Jorolan.
But all these, he said, would not have been possible had not the Makati City government featured Pampanga for the fourth anniversary of the Salcedo Market on June 28.
Mayor Jejomar Binay joined the occasion, sampling the dishes and meeting up for the first time with Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio.
“Nothing political here,” the two officials were heard telling a crowd of market goers. Panlilio came to support the fair and to promote “Luid Ka,” a book published by the Kapampangan Marangal Inc. on the homegrown crusade for good governance and responsible citizenship.
Everybody’s Café, Trellis, Cabalen, Abe’s, Jun Jun’s Barbecue and Bibingka, Teresita R. Razon’s Palabok and Halo-Halo, Lourdes Torres and Porac’s Binulo (food cooked in bamboo) showed the best of Kapampangan cuisine, and they were bestsellers.
The Sweets and Delicacies Association of Pampanga showed up in full force, selling Wow Mani, Navarro’s taba ng talangka, Carreon’s pastilles and plantanillas, Kuliat cakes and empanada and Lailen’s pastries. Moringga Green Gold Corp. sold malunggay grown in Porac, in tea and capsule forms.
Bakeline’s breads, Alex Patio’s fresh sugarcane juice, Mitchie Hizon’s heirloom desserts, Derick Hizon’s freshly picked fiddlehead fern (pako) salad and Sta. Rita town’s barrio goodies were a hit as well.
Craftsmanship was exhibited care of furniture from Betis Crafts, terra cotta pots by Asia Ceramics, hand-carved religious images by Willy Layug, Pampanga parol (Christmas lantern) by Bong Mendoza and semiprecious jewelry by Mariquita Accessories. Also offered were wooden delicacy molds and serving pieces by Lilian Borromeo, dried banana bark painting by Allan Jimenez and mirrors by Ellen’s House of Frames and Crafts.
ArtiSta.Rita, just fresh from musical concerts in the United States, virtually detained the buyers – and convinced some to buy more – by performing and singing folk and original pop songs. Sinukwan Dancers and San Lorenzo Ruiz Dance Group showed street dancing at its best, with lanterns as main props.
Large crowds turned up for the cooking demonstrations.
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