Food Ventures in Pampanga - "Food and Festivals" by Vergel Paule

If there’s something very special that I can recall about living in Pampanga, it has got to be its fiestas.  Aside from having the experience being called upon by my aunties from another house by merely just yelling (I think most of them do have this shortcut habit of calling you out even from across the several houses) and having to smell the fresh scent of rice straw in the morning, the year round festivities is one thing I could never forget.  

Looking at the list of monthly festivals in Pampanga, it turns out that the area has a combined total of more than 50 scattered throughout the whole province.  Major festivals which attract a huge crowd of local and foreign visitors include, among others, are:

Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival – held annually in Omni Aviation Complex inside Clark Freeport Zone.  It features multicolored hot air balloons from around the globe, it is the biggest aviation sports event in the Philippines.( http://www.pampangatalents.com/Pampanga_Festivals.htm)

Giant Lantern Festival – The City of San Fernando is known to be the Christmas Capital of the Philippines. Seven barangays from City of San Fernando are participating in the contest of the giant lantern competition. 20 feet diameter lanterns with thousands of dancing lights are being judge and display every Saturday before Christmas. (http://www.pampangatalents.com/Pampanga_Festivals.htm)

Pyestang Tugak – Pyestang Tugak or Frog Festival which started in 2003 in City of San Fernando.  Its aim is to preserve the Kapampangan culture and to promote the Pampanga’s unique frog cuisine. (http://www.pampangatalents.com/Pampanga_Festivals.htm) 

The Sisig Sour-Sucking Festival - In December, Angeles City celebrates their love for sour things by preparing sisig, which is when half ripened fruits or meats are dipped in salt and vinegar for sour consummation. While sisig is prepared all year, there is a special festival for it in December called the Sisig Festival. Chefs from all over the world come to compete in the sisig cooking contest. The contest is so famous that even fast food chains have won the contest with their great entrees. If you like sour food, this is a festival not to be missed. (http://www.exoticphilippines.info/2013/09/2-top-festivals-in-pampanga-philippines.html)

As always, along with most of these major festivals, never will I forget the food that comes with these celebrations.  I could recall going house to house within our neighbourhood in Lubao and finding the same visual presentation of food despite its variety; the adobo, menudo and caldereta all look almost visually the same.You’ll just be surprised to find out the dish you’re eating only after you have it. But despite all this, I’d never stop eating the same food served over and over from each and every relative we visited.    

This Kapampangan richness of cultural passion for festivities and love for food truly deserves the recognition of being the “Culinary Capital of the Philippines”.  And so, whenever you’re within the province, here’s 3 of never to forget to eat dishes I have personally enjoyed that is uniquely Kapampangan:

1. Sisig 

– a dish composed of different parts of a pig’s head sometimes mixed with chicken and port liver, sisig can now be seen and served in most Filipino specialty restaurants anywhere in the Philippines.  

The following restaurants which serve renowned and original Kapampangan sisig versions and their respective locations:

a. Aling Lucing’s – known to be the original “modern day sisig” and the reason why Angeles was declared “Sisig Capital of the Philippines.

b. Mila’s Tokwa’t Baboy – known have the crunchier sisig as the recipe entails the deep fry of the their sisig before having it served on a sizzling plate.

2. Buro – is a Philippine condiments which can serve as a side condiment usually together with steamed vegtables and/ or fried fish.

3. Murcon – a stuffed meat roll similar to the embutido, the Kapampangan murcon has chorizo, carrots, hardboiled egg and queso de bola.

Sources:

Pampanga Festivals / Celebrations
Giant Lantern Festival - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
San Fernando, Pampanga - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pampanga - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Filled Bowl and a Filled Palate: Finding National Identity through Food and Horror Vacui | The Daily Opium
2 Top Festivals In Pampanga Philippines - Exotic Philippines
When in Pampanga, Eat! (10 Dishes You Should Try) | Clark Is It | Clarkisit.com
Department of Tourism - The Philippines Ultimate Travel Guide for Tourist
Christmas Capital of the Philippines Fiesta: Giant Lantern Festival Tour 2013 | Culture Shock PH
PAMPANGA FEASTS AND FESTIVALS, PHILIPPINES (Official Website of PhilTravelcenter.com - Pampanga, Philippines)
Colorful Festivals in Pampanga | Travel to the Philippines
Kapampangan cuisine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Philippine condiments - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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