SAN LUIS -- From a simple cooking vlog, Kapampangan businessman Romeo “Gara” Catacutan found instant fame in the social media platform “Tiktok.”

A full-blooded Kapampangan and resident of this municipality, Catacutan’s content on Tiktok ranges from him cooking Kapampangan meals, tours at his farm resort, giving service workers whom he passes by along the road some financial aid, and even simple leisure time with his family and workers.

Known to his viewers as “Idol Gara,” Catacutan now has some 777,000 followers on Tiktok, some of which are from as far as Visayas and Mindanao.

“Hindi ko rin inexpect e, nagvi-video lang ako nung mga niluluto ko kasi iyong mga Kapampangan sa abroad, kapag nakakakita ng lutong Kapampangan, natatakam sila e. Tapos bigla nalang nagulat ako ang dami ng views at likes,” he recalled.

Prior to being a content creator, Catacutan is a known businessman who owns a farm resort in Barangay Sta. Catalina here, and several gasoline stations in and outside of Pampanga.

“Pero bago ako nagkaroon ng business, nasubukan ko na rin maging tricycle at taxi driver at kung ano-anong trabaho kaya alam ko ang hirap kaya walang napapahiya sa mga lumalapit sa akin,” said Catacutan in Kapampangan language.

Currently, the Kapampangan businessman said he also opened for free his farm resort to those who wanted to visit, relax and take a breath of fresh air.

He said he initially opened it during Christmas time to give children who were locked down for two years a place to go to.

“Dinesign ko iyan ng mga ilaw para mag-enjoy mga bata pero ngayon kahit tapis na ang Pasko, may mga pumupunta. Iyong mga bikers na gusto magpapicture o makikain, meron din dumadayo pa talaga mula sa kung saan-saan at siyempre welcome naman sila dito,” he said.

Catacutan, meanwhile, clarified that he is not running for any elective post in the coming election.

“Ang gusto ko lang magpasaya, ma-i-promote ang pagkaing Kapampangan at kung may maitutulong, siyempre tutulong. Sa ngayon, retired na ako sa business kaya ito nalang ang ineenjoy ko at nakakatuwa din na naeenjoy din ng ibang tao ang gawa ko,” he said.

He added that he also hopes to inspire other people, especially the youth, who want to do business as he also started from being a simple worker.

“Nagsha-share din ako kung paano ako nakapagbusiness at sana makainspire ako sa aking mga followers,” he said.