President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vetoed Senate Bill No. 2797 / House Bill No. 10634, which seeks to declare Pampanga as the Culinary Capital of the Philippines.
Marcos rejection of the bill has drawn strong reactions from Kapampangans.
The president's decision has ignited discussions on social media, with many expressing disappointment and frustration.
“Go find a province that beats Pampanga on food,” a netizen commented on SunStar Pampanga’s Facebook page.
Others pointed out that Pampanga’s signature dishes, such as sisig and tocino, have helped place the Philippines on the global culinary map.
“Sisig, tocino, betute, adobong kamaru, and many more made the Philippines popular to the world—and they all came from Pampanga,” another netizen wrote.
Some Kapampangans who claimed to have voted for Marcos in the last election also voiced out their dismay.
“Binoto natin siya, pero hindi niya tayo binoto,” one said.
In a letter to the Senate and House of Representatives, Marcos said he acknowledged Pampanga’s diverse and flavorful dishes, traditional cooking methods, and strong culture of food innovation.
However, he cited concerns over the “declaration’s lack of historical basis, the absence of a thorough study that shows key performance indicators for such designation, and the possibility that the bill may offend sensibilities in other provinces that are equally proud of their culinary contributions.”
“I believe one must travel our islands to identify the tastes and flavors that express our culture. Our regional variants and their recognizable nuances are what make the palette that is truly Filipino,” the president said.