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We tag along to the My City, My SM events all over the country. So far we’ve been to Baguio, Tarlac, Lipa, Batangas, Lucena, Naga, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro and Davao with the hardworking marketing team of Ms Millie Dizon. My City, My SM highlights the histories and the sights of Philippine cities; now this acclaimed tourism promotion project has been expanded to include local cuisines. More reason for us to travel around the country!

At last Saturday’s My City, My SM, My Cuisine event at SM Batangas, old Batangas families proudly presented their heirloom recipes.

Adobong Pastor, a recipe that has been in the Pastor family for generations. This adobo has no soy sauce; achuete is used instead. And it has chicharon, mmmm. Probably the most evilly scrumptious adobo we’ve ever had. To the right, Ginataang Sugpo from the recipe of Cristy Irineo. Makes you feel like you’ve been on a long and penitential diet, no?

Adobo Sa Dilaw, another variation on adobo, an original recipe by Ka Ely of the Montenegros of Taal. According to Batangas tourism officer Dindo Montenegro, family occasions were always full house in anticipation of Ka Ely’s cooking. On the left, Taal’s Famous Tapa at Longganisa, one of the main reasons you should visit the Taal Public Market—look for Mr Rey Legaspi’s shop. On the right, a true Taal delicacy: Tinindag, the native barbecue, original recipe by Aling Consolacion Anura. Tinindag is made of pork cheeks and snout—yes, it is pigface barbecue and it is worth jumping into your car and driving at top speed to Taal.

TagHilaw, another original recipe by Ka Ely, is made of innards. Some people get queasy at the mention of innards, and faint at the sight of them. Good, we don’t have to share, then. (Ibili mo na lang sila ng hamburger, or as old ladies would say when I was a kid, “ham-boor-jer”.)

Sinukmani (rice cake) by Cesca’s catering. They make the best linupak (or is it Nilupak) on earth, look them up.

After dining on all of the above with a kilo of rice, a gallon of cold salabat, and don’t forget the hot tsokolate, walk up and down Taal Volcano.