PAMPANGA was recently named the culinary capital of the Philippines and no one can be any prouder than Senator Lito Lapid, a real resident of the province.

“Kapapasa lamang two days ago ng Senate Bill 2797 declaring Pampanga as the culinary capital of the Philippines,” said Senator Lito Lapid.

“Mga kasamahan kong senators, pinag-kaisahan nila na suportahan ang bill na ito.

“Kilala po ang Pampanga sa masasarap na pagkain. Walang tumutol. Lagi kong pinapadalhan ang mga kapwa ko senators ng lutong pagkain, mga lutong Kapampangan.”

The bill was authored by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, herself a Kapampangan when she was still a congressman and was enacted into law by Senator Lapid.

Senator Lapid expects the bill to boost tourism in Pampanga, like the places in Hong Kong and Japan.

The province gives incentives to the restaurants under the Department of Tourism, according to Mark Lapid.

Senator Lapid admitted he cooks Pampanga delicacies like sisig or even maja blanca (tibok-tibok), pinaupong manok, embutido and adobong puti. “Lalo na si Mark (Lapid), masarap siyang magluto ng adobo and pinaupong manok.”

Even on the set of Batang Quiapo, Senator Lapid’s action teleserye on the Kapamilya Channel, he brings Kapampangan food for everybody. Yes, including his leading lady, Lorna Tolentino, the other half of the now-popular PriManda (Primo and Amanda) loveteam.

“Kapag nagdadala ako ng pagkain sa Batang Quiapo, kaming lahat, salu-salo din,” beamed the senator. “Wala naman especial sa lahat.

Kasama din si Coco (Martin) kapag kumakain kami.

“Sabi nga ni direk Malou (Sevilla), masarap ang malaking embutido na galing sa akin,” the senator added.

Under the Department of Tourism, Pampanga leads in the culinary aspect. “Wala kaming magandang kabundukan o karagatan,” said Mark.

“Tanungin mo most people who go to Pampanga, pagkain ang maa-alala nila.”

Senator Lapid plans to create a cultural food center for Pampanga, where they will offer Kapampangan delicacies.

“Right now, when you go to Pampanga, hindi mo alam kung saan ka specific na pupunta for food,” said Mark, who remains the chief operating officer (COO) of TIEZA or Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority since 2021.

Up to this day, Pampanga leads when it comes to culinary ranking. “Wala po kaming popular tourist destination, so we plan to build and create a cultural food center for Pampanga and we will house all the Kapampangan delicacies,” Mark added.

“Hindi mo alam kung saan mo hahanapin ang Susie’s (pancit palabok), Mila’s (lechon) or Aling Lucing’s (sisig). So pagsasamahin namin lahat in one establishment, including well-known chefs (Claude Tayag, Sau del Rosario) and Razon’s (halo-halo), Nathaniel’s (delicacies).”

They are eyeing a 5,000 square meter lot to build the cultural food center, where there will also be a high-end shopping mall, hotel and convention center.

“We are looking at next year to see the completion of the center,” said Mark. “We want to attract those who are merely going on a road trip or simply biking.

“The objective is to gather all the popular Pampanga restaurants in one destination, one-stop. They will also see there all the products of Pampanga.”

Come February, Senator Lapid will have to give up his Primo character in Batang Quiapo and start campaigning for re-election of a new term in the senate. He hopes to return to the series when he gets re-elected.

Hopefully, the PriManda loveteam will also be seen anew after the elections in May next year.

From the start, Senator Lapid was not amenable to PriManda since they are both senior citizens already.

He was surprised, however, when the pairing clicked with Batang Quiapo viewers and he is simply thankful.

“Never kaming gumawa ng pelikula ni Lorna noong araw until dito lang sa Batang Quiapo na isang teleserye. Nagpapasalamat ako sa nga sumusuporta sa PriManda.”

When there are no cameras around, PriManda is not into acting, too. “Kung gusto niyo, mas gusto ko sana,” Senator Lapid said. “Wala, puro tukso-tuksuhan lang.

“Initially, hindi ko inisip na magki-click kami, pero sa ginagawa namin na may drama, action tapos may romance, ang galing ni Coco na mag-twist ng story.

“Siguro ako na ang pinaka-matandang may ka loveteam. Buti tinatanggap pa ako ng viewers kahit senior citizen na at lolo na ako. Isang karangalan niyan. Ang dami ng naghiwalay diyan, pero matibay ang PriManda loveteam.

“Ang tingin ko sa PriManda, ang lakas-lakas pa. Nagpapasalamat naman ako sa pamilya ko at na-intindihan nila ang trabaho ko.”

Senator Lapid really expects to return in front of the cameras even after next year’s elections. “Mas unang love ko ang pag-arte kaysa sa pulitika,” he insisted. “Kapag artista ka, mas dapat mong i-maintain ang looks at figure mo, kasi kasama ‘yun sa trabaho.

“Dapat pagandahin mo ang katawan mo. Dapat may beauty rest ka din. Hindi ka pwedeng humarap sa tao na haggard ka.

“Sa pulitika, hindi nawawala ang problema ng buong Pilipinas, lalong lalo na ang mga pangangailangan ng tao at disasters. Kahit konti lang makatulong ka, masayang masaya na ako doon.”

He is proud that he finished three terms in the Senate on the way to his fourth. “Maybe after that pwede na akong mag retire.”

AUTHOR PROFILE

Leah C. Salterio