CLARK FREEPORT — Sisig sizzling on iron plates. Bringhe steaming in clay pots. Buro wrapped in mustasa leaves. Tibok-tibok melting sweetly. Just four of the yummiest fare that opened Filipino Food Month 2026 here with Kapampangan heritage on the table.
Food became the language of unity as 147 guests — officials, chefs, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders — gathered at Nayon sa Clark on April 7 to celebrate Filipino identity through cuisine.
The theme “Pamangan: Pamana Qñg Dulang – Savor the Flavors of Metro Clark” aligns with the national observance of Filipino Food Month under Presidential Proclamation No. 469, s. 2018. The initiative is part of Clark’s broader strategy to diversify tourism beyond meetings and events, positioning food as both cultural asset and economic opportunity.
“Food is not just nourishment — it is culture, passion, and identity,” enthused CDC president CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera who opened the celebration with CDC chairman Atty. Edgardo Pamintuan, along with officials of the departments of tourism and trade and industry in Central Luzon.
At centerstage in the food showcase were heirloom dishes from the Metro Clark contiguous communities of Porac, Angeles City, Mabalacat City, Capas, and Tarlac, alongside Clark hotels.
Highlights included burong nasi (fermented rice) with mustasa (mustard greens), ampalaya (bitter melon), and talong (eggplant); pindang damulag (cured carabao meat); kilayin (pork and liver stew); bistek Kapampangan (Kapampangan beef steak); bulanglang (vegetable soup with guava broth); sisig (chopped pork dish, sizzling style); tibok-tibok (carabao milk pudding); and bobotu (steamed rice cake in banana leaves).
Freeport hotels – notably Swissotel, Marriott, Widus, Quest, and Midori – presented curated menus blending tradition with modern presentation, showing how Clark’s hospitality sector is embracing heritage as a competitive edge.
The program also rolled out a month-long calendar of food fairs, culinary tours, and industry engagements designed to strengthen tourism demand and support MSMEs across the region. Punto Lifestyle Team/CDC-PR
