THE Angeles City tourism office, in cooperation with Fresh Options Meatshop, has scheduled the annual Sisig Fiesta for April 28 at the Crossing area, the “birthplace of the original Kapampangan pork dish “sisig babi.”
John Montances, city tourism officer, said the famous “sizzling sisig” was developed in the city.
“Although sisig was still very much a dish for expectant mothers in many Kapampangan homes until the early 1980s, something happened in Angeles City in the late 1960s that changed the history of sisig. It was Angeles City that sisig was served as pulutan or an appetizer that complements alcoholic drinks especially beer,” Montances said.
After a huge fire broke out at the railroad crossing when a train collided with a North-bound passenger bus in the late 1960s, stalls were built and rented out at the Crossing area, according to Montances.
The stalls became drinking places that served barbeque as pulutan, he added.
“This is the culture and heritage of the Angelenos. One mandate of the Angeles City Tourism Office is to preserve and promote by practicing what is our heritage. With the help of the city council, they were able to pass an ordinance and this is what we implemented,” Montances said.
Councilor Amos Rivera said the “sizzling sisig” is declared as cultural heritage of Angeles City.
The 17th Sangguniang Panlungsod, chaired by Nepomuceno, approved Ordinance Number 405 Series of 2017 declaring “sisig babi as an intangible heritage of Angeles,” according to Rivera.
The councilor said the ordinance, which he sponsored, stipulates programs and policies that will safeguard the original recipe and preparation of the pork dish.
Nepomuceno, for his part, cited the importance to preserve the city’s culture and heritage.
“Nakita po namin ang importansya na kailangan itaguyod natin ang pagpapanatili ng ating kultura sa sulat, sining at pagkain lalo na dito sa Angeles, kilalang kilala tayo sa sisig,” Nepomuceno said.
The vice mayor thanked Fresh Options for their support to the city government’s project.
Like sisig, Fresh options traced its roots to Angeles City, where it opened its first four stores in 2005.
Sisig is a Filipino dish made from parts of a pig’s head and liver, usually seasoned with calamansi and chili peppers.
The word sisig was first mentioned in a Kapampangan dictionary in the 17th century meaning to snack on something sour and salad.
Other personalities who attended the press briefing for the festival were Fresh Options owner Richard Lo, HARP president Mitch Otsuru, Councilor Edu Pamintuan and others.