THE famous chicken inasal and piaya of Bacolod City have continued to invite visitors, including celebrities, to come to the city.
These are just some of the mouth-watering offerings which some Kapuso stars always look forward to everytime they are in the city.
Philippine TV Sweetheart Heart Evangelista-Escudero, in a press conference at Planta Hotel in Bacolod City on Sunday, said chicken inasal is one of the reasons that makes the city of smiles special for her and husband Senator Chiz Escudero.
The Kapuso actress said they would normally eat at a restaurant offering chicken inasal paired with "mantika" or chicken oil.
"Although I am on a diet, I do not mind eating a lot because it's so good," she added.
Evangelista-Escudero was joined by other "My Korean Jagiya" cast including Kapuso oppa Alexander Lee, Iya Villana-Arellano, and Divine Aucina.
Lee, whose role has love interest to that of Evangelista-Escudero, said though it was his first time visiting the city, he already heard about piaya.
"I want to try the food, I don't know yet what it tastes like," Lee said, adding that he learned piaya from co-star Aucino because "everytime I go to a place, I would ask for its specialty."
Villania-Arellano shared that aside from chicken inasal she is making sure not to miss the city's half moon cake.
"I can't find it in other places, only here," the host-actress said, quipping that "bago ako bumalik ng Manila, ipa-project ko talaga 'yan."
For comedian Aucina, she loves to eat "isol" or chicken butt of Manokan Country, an array of food stalls offering the city's trademark inasal.
In terms of people, the Kapuso stars said what they love about the Bacoleños are their being "malambing" or lovable.
They all agreed that the people of Bacolod always offer their warm hospitality as well as the sense of cheerfullness.
No wonder, Bacolod is the city of smiles, they told the local press.
"Everytime nandito kami, inaasikaso kami ng maayos. Ang sarap ninyong makasama," Evangelista-Escudero and Villania-Arellano said.
After the press conference, the cast joined thousands of Bacoleños and Negrenses in their jampacked Kapuso Mall Show at SM City Bacolod.
The event is part of the network's efforts to make the celebration of the just-concluded 38th MassKara Festival more colorful.
Evangelista-Escudero said they are overwhelmed with the support and positive feedback the series is getting from the viewers.
"The love story has yet to start, next week is going to be exciting because there will be more kilig," she added.