Regional Filipino Food to Teach Your Kids About Our Culture
If you're a parent raising Filipino kids outside the Philippines, you've likely wondered, How do I help my child connect with our heritage? One of the most joyful, sensory-rich ways is through Filipino food.
But Filipino cuisine isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s a vibrant collection of regional dishes shaped by geography, local ingredients, and centuries of cultural exchange. Whether it’s Ilocano vegetables, Kapampangan meats, or spicy Tausug stews, every dish tells a story. And by sharing those stories with our children, we nurture their identity and deepen their roots.
Why Regional Food Matters
The Philippines is a diverse country of over 7,000 islands—each region offering unique flavors shaped by its climate, land, and people. From mountain stews to coastal seafood dishes, this variety is what makes Filipino cuisine so rich and so exciting to teach to kids.
Here’s a taste of that diversity:
LUZON
Ilocos Region: Bold, Savory, and Fried to Perfection
Must-try: Pinakbet, Bagnet, Vigan Longganisa, Empanada
Flavorful vegetables, crunchy pork belly, and garlicky sausages—Ilocano cuisine is hearty and robust, perfect for curious eaters.
Batangas: Hearty Broths and Strong Brews
Must-try: Batangas Lomi, Bulalo, Adobo sa Dilaw, Kapeng Barako
This Southern Luzon province is famous for comfort food. Share a hot bowl of Bulalo with your child and talk about highland farms and foggy mornings.
Pampanga: The Culinary Capital
Must-try: Sisig, Tocino, Longganisa
Kapampangan food is both creative and bold. If your child loves sizzling dishes or enjoys helping out in the kitchen, Pampanga offers lots of family-friendly cooking inspiration.
Bulacan: Sweet Traditions and Pasalubong Favorites
Must-try: Bibingka, Sapin-Sapin, Cassava Cake, Pastillas de Leche, Ube Halaya
Bulacan’s delicacies are a window into fiesta culture and homegrown Filipino sweets. These desserts are perfect for cooking together on weekends.
Bicol: Spice Meets Coconut
Must-try: Bicol Express, Laing, Pinangat, Kinunot
Introduce your kids to Bicol’s iconic use of gata (coconut milk) and sili (chilies). Many dishes can be made milder without losing flavor.
VISAYAS
Cebu: Lechon and Street Eats
Must-try: Lechon, Puso, Taslob-buwa, Lansiao
From festive lechon to quirky street food, Cebuano cuisine is full of excitement. Eating puso (rice in woven coconut leaves) is an experience in itself!
Iloilo: Rich Broths and Banana Leaf Bundles
Must-try: La Paz Batchoy, Cabatuan Tinu-om
Ilonggo food is soulful and layered. My own knowledge of Ilonggo cuisine has deepened thanks to the Filipino community here in Singapore. Tinu-om, wrapped in banana leaves, feels like opening a story.
Aklan: Coconut-Fresh Comfort
Must-try: Chicken Binakol
Similar to tinola but made with fresh coconut water and meat, Binakol is a beautiful dish to make with your kids—filled with the aroma of lemongrass and ginger.
Bacolod: Grilled Goodness and Sweet Surprises
Must-try: Chicken Inasal, Piaya
Bacolod’s chicken inasal is marinated to perfection and grilled over coals—pair it with sinamak (spiced vinegar) for a true Bacolod experience. Piaya, the sweet flatbread filled with muscovado, makes for a fun, flaky snack to pack in lunchboxes.
Cagayan de Oro: Fusion of Fire and Flavor
Must-try: Sinuglaw, Satti
This city in Northern Mindanao serves Sinuglaw—a brilliant mix of grilled pork or tuna and kinilaw (Filipino ceviche). Satti, a Muslim delicacy, adds peanut sauce and spice to grilled meats. It’s a great way to start conversations about the diversity of Filipino Muslim culture.
MINDANAO
Zamboanga: A Melting Pot of Flavors
Must-try: Curacha
Zamboanga’s cuisine is a blend of Spanish, Malay, and Chinese influences. Curacha, a deep-sea crab cooked in rich coconut milk and spices, is luxurious, communal, and celebratory—a great dish to share at family gatherings.
Davao Region: Burnt Coconut and Bold Tastes
Must-try: Piyanggang Manuk, Tiyulah Itum, Durian
Davao’s Muslim heritage brings us Piyanggang Manuk—chicken slow-cooked in burnt coconut and turmeric—and Tiyulah Itum, a dark beef soup with serious depth. For the adventurous? Durian is a must-try, and a story all on its own.
Cotabato (SOCCSKSARGEN): From Highlands to the Sea
Must-try: Grilled Tuna Belly, Bulalo
Cotabato’s location makes it a hub for both land and sea cuisine. Their tuna belly, grilled and drizzled with calamansi-soy marinade, is light yet satisfying. Their version of Bulalo offers local vegetables and native beef—slow food at its best.
A Diaspora Advantage: We Get to Celebrate It All
In the Philippines, most families tend to cook what’s native to their region. But in the Filipino diaspora, we’re surrounded by kababayans from all over—from Pampanga to Davao. That means we get to share, taste, and appreciate the full rainbow of our culinary heritage.
Living in Singapore, I’ve learned more about Ilonggo food than I ever did growing up. Friends have introduced me to dishes like Kansi, Laswa, and Tinu-om—recipes that now form part of our family’s regular meals. Our kids grow up knowing that being Filipino isn’t just one flavor—it’s many.
Make It a Learning Adventure
Want to teach your child about Filipino food? Try these ideas:
Family Cooking Day: Pick a region and cook one dish together every weekend.
Storytime with Snacks: Serve Piaya while sharing stories from Bacolod, or eat Laing and talk about volcanoes in Bicol.
Map the Flavors: Print a map of the Philippines and color in regions as you cook through them.
Pasalubong Box Play: Create a pretend pasalubong box filled with Bulacan sweets or Cebuano snacks.
Use Campfire Crates: Our Filipino-themed activity books help kids connect the dots between history, geography, and food.
Food is the perfect cultural bridge. Every bite of Filipino food carries a piece of our islands—stories of land, language, people, and celebration. By introducing your children to these dishes, you give them more than a meal—you give them a sense of home, wherever they are in the world.
So go ahead: stir the La Paz Batchoy, grill that Chicken Inasal, or try something new like Piyanggang Manuk. There’s no better way to pass on your love for the Philippines than through its rich and delicious table.