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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-25/kapangpangan-cuisine.avif" alt="kapangpangan cuisine" loading="lazy" />
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The veto, conveyed via a March 12, 2025 letter to the Senate and House of Representatives, was issued through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. 
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<p>
Senate Bill 2797, which aimed to designate Pampanga as the Culinary Capital of the Philippines, was authored by Senator Lito Lapid, a former governor of Pampanga. Meanwhile, House Bill 10634 was introduced by Pampanga representatives Anna York Bondoc, Carmelo Lazatin II, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., and former President turned representative <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/2446/today-in-philippine-history-april-5-1947-maria-gloria-macaraeg-macapagal-was-born-in-lubao-pampanga" class="news_link">Gloria Macapagal Arroyo</a>.
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<p>
The veto has been labeled by critics as <i>"an unnecessary mistake"</i>,  as the bill was perceived to be harmless and primarily cultural. Supporters of Pampanga's culinary legacy argue that the recognition would have strengthened local tourism and spotlighted the ingenuity of Filipino cuisine. Pampanga's array of dishes, rooted in centuries of tradition, has long been celebrated as a cornerstone of Filipino identity.
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The Culinary Capital Controversy: A Missed Opportunity?