Poignant

Biases aside, pick one province that perfectly describes the Philippines and Filipinos, it has to be Pampanga. Pampanga is labeled as the culinary center of the Philippines with its highly-refined Capampangan cuisine. Pampangueños represent the most distinct qualities of Filipinos. Most of all, Pampanga is a city of contrasts just like the entire Philippines itself. Having said that, the province is unique from the rest of the archipelago too- from its language, people, atmosphere and down to its food.

Pampanga boasts of the finest food in the country. It is home to several popular modern restaurants that specialize in Filipino food, for example, Razon's (above) and Cabalen. I have no clue as to what their secret is, but it's the same Filipino recipe: if it's sinigang- it's the best sinigang, adobo- the best adobo, sisig- the best sisig and so on. But the fact that it is the best and most highly regarded points towards its uniqueness too. Capampangan is noticeably different with the way it combines Cantonese, Spanish, Malay and Mexican into one dish, that's why it's so good and, ultimately, very Filipino.

Aside from food, Pampanga is discernible through her people though not always in a good light. I do not understant why, for some reason, Pampagueños are stereotyped as ill-natured and self-centered and, often, the ugly aspects of Filipinos into one peopling. The worst part of this is that if Pampagueños are the representatives of Filipinos as a whole, the Indio does not really look any more civilized then.

What people fail to see are the good qualities that outweigh, if not justify the very stereotypes that have sprung up the sidelines or pampang. People seem to forget the catastrophic Pinatubo eruption twenty years ago which the locals are still struggling from up until now. If there's any ill nature, it's the courageous fight against strife and if there's any selfishness, it's the resilience that 'I can do this by myself no matter what.' They don't get enough credit for the good qualities they put on the table but, really, what better way to describe a Filipino than through Pampangueños' courage and resilience?

If you live in a place like Pampanga, you have no choice but to be brave and selfish in order to make yourself happy. And that does not make you less of a person, in fact, it makes you more. It speaks of the people's light disposition even though vast areas of their arid land are still covered with lava. It talks about contrasts- that of listless sand on one end, and beautiful churches on the other, a sad place yet teeming with optimistic locals.

Indeed, Pampanga represents every aspect of the Philippines yet remains to be unique at the same time. There's this English word we don't have a Tagalog translation for, most probably due to the absence of that experience elsewhere in the country, but which justifies the exact same feel Pampanga evokes through beauty despite sadness, malungkot y malagu.