My City, My SM, My Cuisine Season 2 launched in Rosales Monday, May 7, 2012
The Philippine Star 
Melchor Corpuz (center) and Marissa Marsan (second from right) won the My City, My SM, My Cuisine cookfest with their bangus entree and tupig dessert recipes, respectively. They are shown with Vice Gov. Ferdinand Calimlim (right), Pangasinan First Lady Priscilla Espino (second from left) and SM Supermalls VP for marketing and communications group Millie Dizon (left).
(May 06, 2012 ) MANILA, Philippines - My City, My SM, My Cuisine recently had a grand launch as it celebrated the exquisite flavors of Pangasinan at SM City Rosales. The event began with a spectacular parade of the Talong Festival Dancers of Villasis and the Corn Festival Dancers of Sto. Tomas, who gave mall goers a glimpse of the pomp and pageantry of the country’s third largest province.
Rich traditions, after all, highlight Pangasinan’s culinary culture. It is known for poncia or handaan, lavish feasts centered on food wherein entire barrios or barangays participate. Each member of the community works hand in hand in the preparation of food, the cooking of handa or the dishes to be served, down to the plating and serving.
It is this tradition of community cuisine that has given rise to the many food festivals in the province — the famous Bangus Festival of Dagupan, the Talong Festival of Villasis, the Patupat Festival of Pozorrubio, the Puto Festival of Calasiao, the Mango and Bamboo Festival of San Carlos City, the Sugpo and Malaga Festival of Binmaley, the Longganisa Festival of Alaminos City, the Pandan Festival of Mapandan, and the Tupig Festival of Laoac.
A joint project of SM and the Philippine STAR with support from Homeworld, My City, My SM, My Cuisine Season 2 celebrates the flavors of Philippine regional cuisine through a culinary contest featuring two signature recipes from ten cities where SM malls are located.
Held just in time for the Bangus Festival, the event also showcased two of Pangsinan’s signature dishes in a cookfest — bangus for the entree and tupig for the dessert.
The My City, My SM, My Cuisine, Rosales judges: Elizabeth Lim from The Philippine STAR, Bernadette Arellano from Moringaling Philippines Foundation, Inc. and Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Healthcare, Cora Alvina food critic and researcher and board of trustee from Met Museum, historian and food researcher Sonny Tinio, and artist and cheesemaker Jemil Araos.
Melchor Corpuz’s ginataang boneless bangus na binalot sa dahon ng saging entree and Marsie Marsan’s delightful tupig dessert were adjudged winners by the distinguished board of judges, which included Moringaling Philippines Foundation chairperson Bernadette Arellano, historian and food researcher Sonny Tinio; farmer, cheesemaker, and landscaper/artist Jemil Araos; the Philippine STAR’s Elizabeth Lim; and Metropolitan Museum trustee Cora Alvina.
They each received P5,000 worth of SM gift certificates and Homeworld gift packs from Pangasinan first lady Priscilla Espino, Vice Governor Ferdinand Calimlim, and SM vice president for marketing Millie Dizon. The rest of the finalists received P1,000 worth of SM gift certificates and gift packs from Homeworld.
The event had a Hundred Islands theme, inspired by Pangasinan’s spectacular tourist destination with tropical touches — shells, boardwalks, surfboards, even a vintage Chevy. Guests came in colorful Hawaiian shirts and floral printed sun dresses in line with the theme.
Espino, Vice Governor Calimlim, Laoac Mayor Silverio Alarcio enjoyed the two beautiful showcases — a bamboo inspired island hut highlighting products from Pangasinan; and a tourism center featuring large postcards of the province’s different food festivals.
Other guests included Dr. Irmina Francisco, administrative officer from the office of the governor, Butch Velasco of the Pangasinan information office, Anna Velasco of the City information office, and beauty queens from the province. Tourism officers — Aila Rose Seradoy of Rosales, Genaro Lopez of Laoac, and Rusela Lazo of San Fabian — were also exchanging food notes during the event.
In keeping with the My City, My SM, My Cuisine tradition, a video presentation showcased the heirloom recipes three of the province’s prominent families. No less than Pangasinan first lady Espino, was the gracious hostess at the Urduja House where she prepared her signature Pinaputok na Tilapia recipe.
Dagupan City Councilor Brian Lim, the son of Bangus Festival founder and Mayor Benjie Lim and chairman of the 2012 Bangus Festival, showed that there were indeed many innovative ways to cook his city’s prized milkfish with his savory Bangus Rissoto recipe. Gerry Austria, the man behind Pangsinan’s famous Matutina Seafood Haus and Restaurant shared its specialties — pinakbet and buttered crab. Both cooking demos took place at the Rosales Presidencia through Mayor Ricardo Revita.
The man behind 40 years of Matutina’s Seafood Haus and Restaurant Gerry Austria prepared his heirloom and signature dish pinakbet and buttered crab. He was represented by his niece Cherrylyn A.Cisneros (center).
These were served in the delicious luau inspired spread along with other Matutina favorites and grilled seafood specialties, mixed fruit platters in watermelon and pineapple bowls, rice cakes, tupig, and fresh buko juice and tropical drinks.
My City, My SM, My Cuisine in Rosales is the first in Season 2 of this exciting culinary road show. Last year, it made stops in thirteen stops all over the country, beginning in Santa Rosa where participants competed for the best Puchero with Lauya and Puto Maya with Kilawing Puso ng Saging. Its last stop was in SM City Clark, where Kapampangan foodies showcased the best tidtad and tocino del cielo recipes.
My City, My SM, My Cuisine is a joint project of SM and the Philippine STAR with support from SM Homeworld, the Province of Pangasinan and the Pangasinan Tourism Association.
SM shoppers and Philippine Star readers can submit their recipe of their city’s selected entre and dessert along with their name, address, and occupation to sm_starculinary@yahoo.com. They can also mail these to the Publicity Department, Building C, SM Corporate Office, JW Diokno Boulevard, Pasay City, or the Lifestyle Section of the Philippine STAR at R. Oca Jr. and Railroad Streets, Port Area, Manila.
Ten finalists will be selected — five for entrees and five for dessert. Two winners — one for entre and one for dessert — will be selected from each city during the culinary contest that will be held in time for the city’s festival. The two winners will each receive P5,000 worth of SM gift certificates, while finalists will receive packs from SM Homeworld.
