MANILA, Philippines - Pamana Restaurant located in Tagaytay City is indeed a legacy for the Filipinos of today. It reminds us of the memories of lunches and dinners that were usual happy occasions celebrated with family and close friends. Owned and operated by chef, restaurateur Happy Ylagan Ongpauco, and businessman Dexter Tiu, Pamana is a refreshing retreat as well as a place to walk down memory lane.
Pamana recreates an ambiance of an ancestral home against the scenic Tagaytay ridge. Guests are welcomed by an array of memorabilia from the 1900s with portraits of famous people and veteran actors/actresses from Sampaguita Pictures such as Liberty Ilagan (Ongpauco’s mother), Amalia Fuentes, Susan Roces, National Artist director Gerry de Leon among others. From the furnishings in antiquity, table settings down to the floor tiles, one will feel being transported back to the rustic olden days in the ‘60s.
Walking inside the restaurant is like walking through your grandparents’ house. Pieces of furniture are carefully placed to recreate every nook and cranny of a comfortable, homey ambiance of a typical old house. The three-storey restaurant is furnished with wrought-iron chandeliers, ceramics, big and heavy dining tables paired with sturdy chairs, capiz display cabinets, wooden trunks, comfortable wooden sofas with small throw pillows and other antique displays.
“I am proud of the legacy my family has handed down to me — delicious and authentic Filipino food derived from love for the family and passion for cooking. Pamana is my way of sharing this legacy with other people,” said Happy.
Happy belongs to the third generation Ongpauco clan who started Barrio Fiesta Restaurants. The young businesswoman also owns other restaurant chains such as Hawaiian Bar-B-Que in Esplanade by Mall of Asia, Tagaytay & Station 1 Boracay, World Topps and Bento Box around Metro Manila, I love Backyard BBQ at D‘Mall in Boracay and The Boutique Bed and Breakfast Tagaytay. Dexter, on the other hand, is from the family that owns The Discovery Suites Hotel Group and Sterling Bank of Asia. Together, their goal is to revive the Filipino tradition of celebrating each meal time with the family.
True to its name, Pamana serves food cooked in the tradition of the century-old collection of heirloom recipes of the Ongpauco clan. Inherited recipes such as Sinigang sa Manggang Hilaw, Chicken Binakol, Tinuktok, Sinanglay, Binagoongan Bagnet, Ginataang Ulang sa Kamias and Barrio Fiesta’s famous Original Crispy Pata which was invented by Happy’s father, Rod, have become instant best sellers from the day they opened the restaurant last month. The menu also features four-way Cochinillo (lechon de leche cooked four ways — Crispy Lechon, Belly Roll, Garlic Lechon Soup, Lechon Ribs grilled in olive oil and Lechon Paella) which is a staple in the Ylagan family noche buenas. Other hand-me down recipes from close family friends, people they grew up with and those they met in their travels are also included in the menu.
“Memories are still the most precious heirlooms we can give our family. I hope Pamana helps contribute to bring that back,” said Happy.
Pamana is located along Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City. For more information and reservations, call 0464131885 or 0927-3632660.