ANGELES CITY - “A taste of Angeles” -- this is what Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. wants to share with food enthusiasts all over the world, as the city reinforces its “gastro-tourism.”
“Gusto nating pasiglahin ulit ang turismo sa siyudad, at isang effective way para maka-attract tayo ng maraming turista ay sa pamamagitan ng mga pagkaing Angeleño,” Lazatin explained.
The city government is already making the necessary preparations once the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases allows the full operation of the tourism industry, when things finally settle down after the pandemic, Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel said.
Manuel has already coordinated with Angeles City Tourism Officer Anneleen Sugui to oversee the management of the city’s tourism attractions, in order to iron out the safety protocols in their respective business establishments, upon the order of Mayor Lazatin.
According to the Department of Tourism (DOT), gastro-tourism, also known as culinary or food tourism, is the exploration of food as the purpose of tourism. Today’s tourists consider food, alongside climate, scenery, and accommodation, as a vital element in choosing their next destination.
Dubbed as the Culinary Capital of the Philippines, Angeles City has always been a favorite destination for foodies, Sugui said.
“People go to the city for the sole purpose of tasting authentic Kapampangan food in various homegrown restaurants found in the city including Angeles Fried Chicken, Kamalig, Susie’s Cuisine, Mila’s, Bale Dutung, Kambingan, and Toll House to name a few,” Sugui added.
Mayor Lazatin’s Chief Adviser and Tactician Director IC Calaguas reminisced how the late Mayor Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin pioneered the celebration of the city’s annual Sisig Festival.
“Brainchild ni Tatang Tarzan yang Sisig Festival. Gusto niyang ipagmalaki sa buong mundo na yung sisig, original at tatak Angeleno talaga,” Calaguas said.
It can also be recalled that the late celebrity chef and award-winning travel documentarian, Anthony Bourdain, even branded the city’s trademark dish sisig, as “the best pork dish in the world.”
With the whole world slowly picking up the pieces of the aftermath of the pandemic, and transitioning into the new normal, Mayor Lazatin plans to strengthen the city’s gastro-tourism.
“Kung pagkain ang pag-uusapan, marami talaga tayong pwedeng ipagmalaki dito sa Angeles. Kailangan lang nating paigtingin ang promotion campaign natin para mas marami ang makaalam ng mga inoofer nating food experience dito sa siyudad,” Lazatin said.
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Anneleen Sugui, Angeles City Tourism Officer-in-Charge, proudly supports “Gawang Angeleño” as she poses with the recycled straw bag of Elen Turla, one of the local products featured in the One Town, One Product (OTOP) shop.