Bill to declare Pampanga as PH culinary capital reaches Senate floor

KAPAMPANGAN SPREAD Apag Marangle in Guagua, Pampanga, is among the top destinations for authentic Kapampangan dishes. —WILLIE LOMIBAO

MANILA, Philippines — The bill seeking to declare Pampanga province the culinary capital of the Philippines has reached the Senate floor.

During the chamber’s Tuesday plenary session, Pampanga native Sen. Lito Lapid stood to co-sponsor Senate Bill No. 2797.

He said Pampanga deserves the recognition as it was named a food destination by Conde Nast Traveler in 2022, while Angeles City was one of Asia’s Best Emerging Culinary City Destinations in 2024.

“You know, the story of Pampanga is not only about food, but also our resilience and creativity. You can see that on our food,” Lapid said in Filipino.

“Ang Pampanga po ay hindi gaya ng ibang mga probinsya na may likas na tanawin at pasyalan. Wala po kaming makikinang na mga beach at magagandang bulubundukin o mga rock formation. Ang mayroon po kami ay pusong Kapampangan at ang aming pagkain na hinubog ng aming kasaysayan,” he added later on.

“Unlike other provinces, Pampanga does not have a tourist attraction. We do not have shining beaches and beautiful mountains and rock formation[s]. What we have is the Kapampangan heart and food shaped by our history,” he added.

In his speech, Lapid mentioned Pampanga’s notable 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.

According to the senator, many 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, came from Pampanga.

“[W]e are asking, with all our hearts, help us to give the province of Pampanga the slogan, which is the culinary capital of the Philippines,” Lapid said.

READ: Lito Lapid Pampanga’s pride, shame