Food, culture, and fun filled the air at the 3rd Manyaman Festival in San Fernando, Pampanga, where the province’s rich culinary heritage took center stage — from sizzling sisig to sweet bibingkang nasi.

The kickoff of the Manyaman Festival and Filipino Food Month brought together flavors from across Pampanga’s four districts.

The celebration highlighted traditional and unique Kapampangan dishes that tell the story of the province’s identity.

From the 1st District, Angeles City served its iconic sizzling sisig while Mabalacat City offered its beloved putong babi.

The 2nd District followed with Sta. Rita’s tender asadong dila and Guagua’s crispy chicharon.

“Congratulations to us, culinary capital or not. Tuloy-tuloy tayo. It’s part of our heritage. Dapat ipamana natin lalo sa mga kabataan,” SPM Claire Lim, Chairperson of the Committee on Arts, Culture & Tourism, said.

The 3rd District delighted crowds with pindang damulag and pacu salad from San Fernando, legendary halo-halo, and a uniquely twisted adobong balot from Sta. Ana.

Meanwhile, the 4th District capped off the food parade with relleno alimango from Macabebe, the sweet bibingkang nasi of San Luis, and Masantol’s rich cajun seafood boil with garlic butter.

Tourists, like James Razon, praised the variety and flavor of the local offerings.

“I ate halo-halo. It’s good. It was sweet and refreshing. It’s really hot here,” he said.

Performances by Miah Tiangco, grand winner of The Clash 2019, and MOKA-awarded group Arti Sta. Rita entertained the crowd.

The festival also featured a three-day agri-business trade fair, showcasing fresh produce, local products, and crafts by farmers, agri-preneurs, and artisans.