Michelin in the Philippines

The Philippine Embassy in Singapore said Wednesday it is launching a Michelin Guide 2026 pocket guide for Manila, nearby dining destinations and Cebu as part of April’s Filipino Food Month. (philippine-embassy.org.sg) The embassy’s April 22, 2026 announcement said the pocket guide complements Michelin’s digital guide and is aimed at travelers and food enthusiasts visiting Philippine culinary destinations. (philippine-embassy.org.sg) Michelin unveiled its first Philippines selection on October 30, 2025, covering 108 establishments across Manila and its environs plus Cebu. The list included 1 two-star restaurant, 8 one-star restaurants, 25 Bib Gourmand picks and 74 Michelin Selected restaurants. (michelin.com, guide.michelin.com) Michelin said 90 of those restaurants were in Manila and surrounding areas, while 18 were in Cebu. The 2026 launch also included 1 Green Star for sustainability and 3 special awards for young chef, service and cocktails. (michelin.com, guide.michelin.com) The embassy tied the pocket guide launch to Filipino Food Month, a nationwide April observance created under Presidential Proclamation No. 469 in 2018. This year’s theme is “Connected by Taste: Filipino Food in the Flavors of ASEAN.” (philippine-embassy.org.sg, da.gov.ph) The National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Department of Agriculture said the 2026 celebration opened in March and will run through April with events in Iloilo City and other regions. Iloilo is billed by organizers as the Philippines’ first United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Creative City for Gastronomy. (da.gov.ph) Michelin’s arrival gives the Philippines a formal place in the guide’s global ratings system, which can influence where international diners travel and where chefs seek recognition. Michelin said the debut selection was meant to spotlight both fine dining rooms and street-side eateries. (guide.michelin.com, michelin.com) For now, the government’s pitch is straightforward: use the Michelin brand and Filipino Food Month at the same time to put Manila, its surrounding food hubs and Cebu in front of more overseas diners. (philippine-embassy.org.sg)