Even bread has the flavor of politics in the Philippines. Celebrate World Pandesal Day at 9 a.m. on Oct. 16 (Thursday) at the 86-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café, located on Judge Jimenez Street corner K-1st Street, Barangay Kamuning, Quezon City
The event will give away 100,000 free pandesal to honor the country’s national bread and to raise awareness about hunger and food security, in line with the United Nations’ “World Food Day.”
Every year, the bread served in Kamuning Bakery Café rises with the presence of noted politicians—the movers and shakers that make politics in the Philippines alive with debate and coffee-grinding controversy.
ACROSS POLITICAL LINES
Over the years, Kamuning Bakery Café has broken bread with politicians from Left to Right of the Philippine political spectrum.
Some of its notable politician guests include:
Oct. 16, 2017—Former Vice-President Leni Robredo joined the celebration of World Pandesal Day. Said Robredo: “This occasion is new to me, but a welcome reminder that we should also take delight in the simplest joys in our lives.” Robredo ate pandesal and her childhood favorite Kalihim which she said is called “Maligaya” in her hometown Naga.
Oct. 16, 2018—Former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares participated in the 4th World Pandesal Day celebration at Kamuning Bakery Café. Together with Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and GMA Network Chairman Atty. Felipe Gozon, they distributed over 70,000 pandesal, cheese, sardines, noodles, and other food items to the urban poor in Quezon City.
Oct. 5, 2022—President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. dipped pandesal in hot brewed coffee several times at Kamuning Bakery Café. To mark World Pandesal Day in 2022, Marcos said in a message: “Every year, the renowned Kamuning Bakery distributes thousands of these versatile bread and other food items to address hunger in the locality, and by doing so, it also spreads awareness of our social responsibility while sharing warmth and solace to those who need it most.”
Oct. 14, 2022—Sen. Imee Marcos and Sen. Ping Lacson celebrated World Pandesal Day at Kamuning Bakery. Both distributed over 100,000 pieces of pandesal, along with other food items like cheese, sardines, ham, coffee, and juice to urban poor families and orphanages in Metro Manila.
“This year, the guest of honor for World Pandesal Day will be Vice-President Sara Duterte who will lead in the distribution of 100,000 free Pandesal packs to raise awareness about hunger and food security in line with the United Nations’ World Food Day,” Flores said.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
Started in 2015, Flores explained that “World Pandesal Day was inspired by the biblical story of the miracle of five loaves and two fishes. The event has become a symbol of generosity, heritage, and social responsibility, with other bakeries in the Philippines and abroad also celebrating it.”
He added: “Our goal is two-fold: to honor the humble yet great pandesal as our national bread, and to highlight the urgent need to solve the age-old problems of hunger and poverty.”
Kamuning Bakery Café operates as a social enterprise, directing most of its profits to civic and cultural charities, including its annual rural school building donations. It plans to donate some 12 rural public school-buildings in the coming three years.
The Café’s corporate partners and donors include: Chinese General Hospital, San Miguel Mills, Mondelez Philippines, Hobe Noodles, Mega Sardines, King Sue Ham, Yan Yan International Phils. Inc., Red Apple Properties, Caltex Iba Malhacan Meycauayan Exit, Cathedral Cargo Movers Trucking, and Wheelstar Trading, among others.
HEALTH AND EDUCATION
According to Flores, in addition to promoting food security, World Pandesal Day 2025 is expanding its social outreach with two other initiatives.
There is the Free Medical & Dental Mission on Oct. 26 (Sunday) in partnership with volunteer doctors from the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center (CGHMC).
The other initiative involves the donation of 12 new Public School Buildings to underserved rural areas nationwide, in partnership with the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII).
Wilson bared that two public school-buildings had already been completed and turned over in Pangasinan and Tarlac, with 10 more on the way in other regions.
