Eastern Visayas Infinite Escapes

May is festival season in Eastern Visayas. 🥳

Here’s your festival guide for the month — so you can join the celebration along the way.

Behind every breathtaking destination and every unforgettable experience in Eastern Visayas is the dedication, passion, and hard work of our tourism workforce.

Today, the Department of Tourism Region 8 salutes the hands that build, the voices that guide, and the hearts that serve.

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗲𝘀. 🫶🏻

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗳 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗳 𝗚𝗶𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮 𝗼𝗳 Pasqualino’s Ristorante Italiano
Filipino–Vietnamese Fusion

Chef Giuseppe “Tepi” Bonavitacola delivered a standout culinary and cocktail experience with an imaginative Vietnamese–Filipino showcase paired with innovative Filipino-inspired mixology.

His savory offerings included the flavorful Humba Bánh Mì and the inventive Cha Gio Kinilaw, blending Vietnamese staples with beloved Filipino flavors.

Complementing these dishes were creative Filipino cocktails in collaboration with Pedicab Spirits: Tagay!, Isaw, P**o Bumbong, and Calamansi Sour—each sip reimagining Filipino classics through bold, modern craftsmanship.

This presentation was a true testament to culinary innovation—where food and drink became a celebration of Filipino identity in conversation with ASEAN influences.

📍 Pasqualino’s Ristorante Italiano, Sta. Rita, Samar
🗓️ 25 April 2026

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗳 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝘂𝗱 𝗔𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗲 “𝗬𝗮𝗻” 𝗚. 𝗝𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘇-𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗵𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗳 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗵𝘂 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝘂𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗯
Filipino–Malaysian Fusion

La Maison Punjab delivered a rich and flavorful Filipino-Malaysian experience through dishes that celebrated spice, texture, and cultural storytelling.

Their menu featured the savory Chicken Satay with Kare-Kare Peanut Sauce and Puso, the deeply spiced Beef Rendang Kabkab, and the indulgent dessert fusion Cendol-Leche Flan—each dish masterfully bridging Southeast Asian culinary traditions with beloved Filipino elements.

📍 Pasqualino’s Ristorante Italiano, Sta. Rita, Samar
🗓️ 25 April 2026

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗳 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗳 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘇𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻𝟮𝗞
Filipino–Singaporean Fusion

Chef Monch Salazar of Kitchen 2K brought bold reinterpretations to the table with a Filipino–Singaporean menu that celebrated comfort food through inventive fusion.

Featuring the nostalgic yet elevated Pan de Sal Kaya Butter Toast, the rich and hearty Kare-Kare Claypot Rice, and the addictive crunch of Crispy Fish Skin and Crispy Kangkong, Chef Monch’s creations offered a playful yet sophisticated culinary journey.

📍 Pasqualino’s Ristorante Italiano, Sta. Rita, Samar
🗓️ 25 April 2026

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗳 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗳 𝗠𝘆𝗹𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝗽𝘂𝘇-𝗠𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗶𝘆𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲
Filipino–Thai Fusion

Where Filipino flavors meet Thai vibrance—Chef Myla Lapuz-Mabute of Miyara Patisserie delighted guests with a thoughtfully curated Filipino–Thai menu that transformed familiar favorites into exciting cross-cultural creations.

From the fresh and herb-forward Lumpiang Puso ng Saging Nam Jim, to the bold and flavorful Palabok Pad Thai, and the sweet nostalgic charm of Pastillas Luk Chup, Chef Myla’s canapé selections beautifully showcased the harmony between local tradition and Southeast Asian flair.

📍 Pasqualino’s Ristorante Italiano, Sta. Rita, Samar
🗓️ 25 April 2026

𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
📍Nyum-a-go-go

A flavorful twist on your street food favorites—bringing in bold tastes from across Southeast Asia.

– Vietnamese dishes
– Thai favorites

Fresh, vibrant, and packed with flavor—perfect for those craving something a little different.

📍 Magsaysay Boulevard, Tacloban City
(beside 1.5° Celsius Restaurant)
🗓️ April 24–25, 2026 | 4:00 PM onwards

𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕—𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑 𝒃𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒃 𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒆!

𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
📍Cooked by Vin

Golden, crispy, and straight-up satisfying.

– Empanada
– Egg Roll

📍 Magsaysay Boulevard, Tacloban City
(beside 1.5° Celsius Restaurant)
🗓️ April 24–25, 2026 | 4:00 PM onwards

𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕—𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑 𝒃𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒃 𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒆!