What, exactly, do we celebrate?
For Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO) head BJ Borja, that was always the biggest question his office has to answer in staging the city's annual Puto Latik Festival.
And for him, the answer is clear and simple: the Puto Latik Festival celebrates the best of the best of the city’s rich culture, history and talent.
“I think there are two main factors on why we are celebrating festivals,” was how Borja put it in an interview with OpinYon Laguna. “Number one, it is to celebrate. And number two, it is to conserve and preserve. At ang layunin natin sa Puto Latik Festival ay hindi lamang i-celebrate, kundi pati na rin i-safeguard ang ating traditions.”
This year’s celebration of the Puto Latik Festival, now in its 16th year, proved to be no different.
Even as some of the activities had to be scaled down due to the impact of the ongoing energy crisis, the 16th iteration of one of Biñan City’s two top-drawing events (the other one being the Araw ng Biñan, held every February) was a feast not only of the senses but also of the mind for the Biñanenses and tourists who participated in the weeklong activities from May 15 to 23.
Puto Biñan 2.0
The Puto Latik Festival, of course, won’t be complete without the much-anticipated “Puto Biñan 2.0: The Biñan City Cook-off Challenge” which was held on May 16 at the Southwoods Mall.
Here, competitors from various barangays in the city were invited to put new twists on the traditional Puto Biñan.
Instead of the usual toppings of cheese or salted eggs, contestants were dared to bring in their unique (and sometimes wacky) ideas on how to enhance the appearance and the flavors of Biñan City’s main culinary icon.
The surprise champion for this year’s Puto Biñan 2.0 challenge: the city’s namesake barangay of Biñan, which brought home the bacon (figuratively) with their Biñan Puto Fiesta Royal.
Meanwhile, Barangay Langkiwa bagged the 1st runner-up spot with their Biñan Chewy Puto, while Barangay Canlalay became the 2nd runner-up with their Tres Crema Chicken Potato Pie.
The event was also highlighted by the unveiling of a giant bilao of Nila’s Puto Biñan, a symbol of the city’s cultural and culinary heritage.
Other highlights
Aside from highlighting the Puto Biñan itself as a tangible cultural heritage, this year's Puto Latik Festival also showcased the best of the best of Biñanense talent, as well as its growing economy.
Such activities as the Puto Latik Costume Parade and Competition; the Biñan Flair Challenge 2025 (during which local baristas showed off their bartending skills); the Biñan Modern Dance Showdown and the Biñan Singing Idol provided Biñanenses an ideal outlet to show off their talents and skills.
The city's history was also highlighted during the "Usapang Kultura," which was spearheaded by the BCHATO, last May 18.
During this forum, two local experts on the city's history – Antonio "Noni" Agulto and Edgar Allan Sembrano – highlighted the importance of structures such as the city's public market and its Spanish-era dams, in shaping the city's history.
City of Life Awards
The Biñan Puto Latik Festival also gave the local government the opportunity to honor the contributions of the private sector to the city’s socio-economic progress, through its “City of Life Awards” held last May 21.
Among the local businesses honored during the event include Desco, Inc. and Lagunense actor and McDonald’s franchisee Alden Richards (Entrepreneurs of the Year Award); RDM Bakery (Breakthrough Business Award); Premiere Medical and Cardiovasucular Laboratory and Inabata Phils. Inc. (Costumer Service Excellence Award); Lakeshore Educational Institution (Child-Friendly Business Award); and Aling Cha's Filipino Restaurant, Tsung Skin Care Products Trading, Kare-kare ni Balat, and Porky's 11 Lechon House (Best Small Enterprise).
Barbierro Barbershop, which was awarded as one of the two Entrepreneurs of the Year in 2025, was given the Seal of Gender-Fair Business Practice, while Zanea Incorporated and Nila's Puto, the creator of the original Puto Biñan, were recognized with the Tatak Biñan Award.
The barangays of Mamplasan, Biñan, San Francisco, San Antonio, Santo Tomas, Poblacion, Canlalay, Malamig, Loma and San Vicente were also recognized as the city's "Most Business-Friendly" barangays.
Support from LGU
The city’s “Big Three” leaders – Mayor Gel Alonte, Vice Mayor Dada Reyes, and Representative Arman Dimaguila – have also taken the opportunity to express gratitude at the outpouring of support of Biñanenses and businesses for the Puto Latik Festival.
For Mayor Alonte, this year’s celebration of the Puto Latik Festival – the first under his administration – carries a special significance.
“Sana, magkaisa, makiisa, makisayaw at makisaya tayong lahat, hindi lamang ngayong Puto Latik Festival. At ang dalangin po ng ating lingkod ay pagkakaisa, dahil tayo ay iisang lahing Pilipino, dapat tayong lahat ay nagtutulungan,” Alonte said during the opening ceremonies of the Puto Latik Festival on May 15.
Vice Mayor Reyes also expressed her thanks to the people both at the forefront and behind the scenes who have worked hard enough to make the Puto Latik Festival a success.
“Patuloy po ng pasasalamat ng ating lokal na pamahalaan, sa ating mga barangay officials, sa ating mga department heads, mga kandidata, at sa mga patuloy na sumusuporta sa mga programa po ng ating local government na nag-e-encapsulate po sa kultura at kagandahan po ng ating lungsod. Kaya patuloy po nating suportahan ang pag-po-promote ng ating turismo,” she added.
Meanwhile, for Representative Dimaguila, the success of this year’s Puto Latik Festival also highlights the success of his and former Mayor Len Alonte’s efforts to promote culture-based tourism as a cornerstone of the city’s economic growth.
“Pinagpapatuloy po natin ito para maging consistent ang ating festival. National awardee po ang festival na ito kaya po kinakailangan natin ipagpatuloy para dito ma-identify ang ating lungsod, mai-showcase natin ang talento at galing ng mga taga-Biñan,” he asserted.
The Biñan City Puto Latik Festival was chosen as "Best Cultural Event - Champion" during the Association of Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines' ATOP National Tourism Pearl Awards last October 2025.
(With reports by Jeremy Rago and Christian Magdaraog)
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews #CoverStory #PutoLatik2026