CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – A Kapampangan food exposition was staged at the Rainwater Park, Capital Town as part of the 3rd Manyaman Festival and Filipino Food Month Celebration to highlight Pampanga’s rich culinary heritage.
The event gathered traditional and contemporary dishes from across the province’s four districts, showcasing the diversity and depth of Kapampangan cuisine.
From the 1st district, featured dishes included pork sisig (pig’s cheeks) from Angeles City, putong babi (pork bread) from Mabalacat City, and bulanglang babi (pork cooked in guava stew) from Magalang.
The 2nd district showcased asadong dila (pork or ox tongue stew) form Sta. Rita, Galans chicharon (fried pork belly or rinds) from Guagua, sabo bule (kidney beans in thin tomato broth) from Floridablanca, sale manuk (native chicken in lemongrass) from Lubao, gisang pugang panas (sauteed eggs of weaver ants) from Porac, and tortang alimasag (crab omelette) from Sasmuan.
Meanwhile, the 3rd district presented pindang damulag (carabao tocino) with pacu salad (fern) from the City of San Fernando, Kabigting’s Halo-Halo from Arayat, baldesadong dila with puto seko from Bacolor, and adobong balot from Sta. Ana.
The 4th District offered beef kare-kare from San Simon, birinok from Sto. Tomas, lutong toyo manok (chicken cooked in soy sauce) from Minalin, kubang itik (duck cooked in coconut milk and spices) from Apalit, cajun seafood boil with garlic butter sauce from Masantol, rellenong alimango (stuffed crab) from Macabebe, lagat hitu (stewed catfish) from Candaba, and bibingkang nasi (sticky rice cake) from San Luis.
“This exposition is a tribute to the culinary artistry of the Kapampangan people. It’s not just about food—it’s about identity, tradition, and pride,” Mike Castañeda, head of the Pampanga Arts, Culture, and Tourism Office, said.
In addition to the food exposition, a three-day agri-business trade fair was launched to provide a platform for farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and artisans to promote local produce, culinary products, and sustainable initiatives.
Castañeda said the trade fair complements the festival’s goal of supporting both cultural preservation and economic development.
He added that in its third year, the Manyaman Festival continues to celebrate Kapampangan culinary traditions, while promoting tourism, local enterprise, and community pride. (CLJD/MJSC, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)