CLARK FREEPORT – “We are elevating Kapampangan culinary. It’s not just for show, it’s not just for exhibit… we are actually establishing a higher level of culinary. It is really for the national stage and world stage.”
Thus, Clark Development Corp. president and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera exalted Pampanga’s renown as a gastronomic heartland in her speech during the opening of the One Pampanga Culinary Cup (OPCC) at the SM City Clark Event Center here on Sept. 16.
“Culinary is not just something that you do for a habit or for a hobby. You do it for passion, and you do it also for the experience, you do it as a career, you do it as a culture, you do it as heritage,” furthered the non-Kapampangan Devanadera in her paean to the kabalen’s culinary excellence.
As though a foretaste of what the event offered, a giant kakanin of some 1,500 pieces puto in a 6X8 presentation prepared by culinary students of various schools in Pampanga served as centerpiece of the opening ceremonies led by Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda, Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursch, Department of Tourism Region 3 director Dr. Richard Daenos, Clark International Airport Corp. president Joseph Alcazar, SM City Clark mall manager Marianne Grace Gavino, and event lead convenors Chef Felix Asuncion and Chie Basco, along with Devanadera.
The OPCC brought together for two days chefs, culinary students, tourism advocates, local government representatives, and industry stakeholders in a showcase of technical skills, creativity, and Kapampangan culinary traditions with discussions featuring renowned master chefs, culinary directors, industry pioneers, and respected figures from across the hospitality sector.
Competition among chefs and culinary students in eight categories, namely Modern Kapampangan Cuisine, Creative Breakfast, Young Chef Challenge,
Quick Fire Pasta, Modern Filipino Kakanin, Dress the Cake, Celebration Cakes, and
Modern Kapampangan Plated Dessert served as the OPCC’s main event.
For all its grandness, the OPCC only served as the opening event of the bigger One Pampanga Food and Beverages Expo (OPFBEX) Week running on Sept. 16-20 at the SMX Convention Center Clark.
The scheduled events included OPFBEX Culinary Tour, a full-day excursion through Pampanga’s noted food destinations on Sept. 18; OPFBEX International Research Conference on Education and Tourism on Sept. 19; One Coffee and Matcha Fest on Sept. 19-20; and Food Forward Forum, an industry discussion themed “From Farm to Finance: Building the Future of Philippine Food,” focused on technology, sustainability, and investment in the local food sector on Sept. 19. Contributed photos
