Michelin in Manila & Cebu

The Philippine Embassy in Singapore marked the launch of the Michelin Guide 2026 for Manila, its surrounding areas, and Cebu on April 22. (philippine-embassy.org.sg) The embassy said the pocket guidebook was released during Filipino Food Month, known locally as *Buwan ng Kalutong Filipino*. It called the publication “a major milestone” for the Philippine culinary sector. (philippine-embassy.org.sg) This was not Michelin’s first announcement for the Philippines. Michelin said it unveiled the country’s first-ever restaurant selection on October 30, 2025, at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Newport World Resorts. (michelin.com) That inaugural 2026 selection covered 108 establishments: one restaurant with two Michelin Stars, eight with one Star, 25 Bib Gourmand picks, and 74 Michelin Selected restaurants. Michelin also gave one Green Star and three special awards. (michelin.com) Michelin’s first Philippine guide split its coverage between Metro Manila and nearby dining destinations, which Michelin grouped as “Manila & Environs,” and Cebu. A widely cited breakdown of the list counted 90 establishments in Manila and Environs and 18 in Cebu. (michelin.com) (traveling-up.com) The embassy tied the April 22 launch to a broader government push around Filipino Food Month. Philippine government-linked announcements for the 2026 observance said April’s program was aligned with the country’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations chairship year and was led by the Department of Agriculture and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. (jakartape.dfa.gov.ph) Michelin is also expanding its public calendar elsewhere. Michelin announced on March 23 that the 2026 Michelin Guide Mexico ceremony will be held in Jalisco on May 20, the first time that event has been hosted there. (guide.michelin.com) For the Philippines, the April 22 event was less a star ceremony than a diplomatic showcase: a government mission abroad promoting a guide Michelin had already published months earlier. It put Manila and Cebu back in front of an international audience during a month dedicated to Filipino cuisine. (philippine-embassy.org.sg) (michelin.com)