Cabanatuan City drew crowds anew for the 2026 Longganisa Festival as it marked its founding anniversary and Banatu Festival, with local vendors and meat producers showcasing the city’s famed longganisa.

Beyond celebrating culinary heritage, this year’s event underscored collaboration between local government and the private sector, as Solane LPG supported the festivities through the Salo-Solane Longganisa Master Cooking Contest.

Ten small-scale restaurants and carinderias competed in the cooking challenge, presenting original dishes built around Cabanatuan longganisa. Entries ranged from traditional comfort fare to modern interpretations, highlighting the versatility of the city’s signature product.

Festival organizers said the annual gathering continues to promote Cabanatuan’s long-standing meat-processing tradition while providing small entrepreneurs greater visibility during one of the city’s biggest celebrations.

In line with its participation, Solane also expanded its footprint in Nueva Ecija with the opening of four new showrooms, including two in Cabanatuan City. A motorcade preceded the cooking contest as part of the company’s provincial expansion activities.

Solane LPG, under Isla LPG Corporation, has supplied liquefied petroleum gas to Filipino households for over seven decades and operates a nationwide distribution network.

City officials said the festival remains both a cultural highlight and an economic boost for local businesses, reinforcing Cabanatuan’s reputation as the “Longganisa Capital of the Philippines.”