What and Where Duterte eats

It has since emerged that the president's "kanin cake" was part of a larger spread, which included and actual cake that also had a candle on top.

Also served at the birthday dinner was lechon, or roast pig and that is usually served at special celebrations.

RELATED STORY: Palace slams criticism of Duterte's birthday party photographs

There have been calls in both chambers of Congress to declare a national emergency over African Swine Flu, which has tightened the supply of pork in the Philippines. This has caused an increase in pork prices, which the government is trying to curb through price controls in the National Capital Region.

Pork prices have also been rising outside Metro Manila.

President Rordigo Duterte has asked Congress to raise the import quota on pork by 350,000 metric tons to address the shortage in supply.

Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go, the president's long-time aide, has posted a photo of President Rodrigo Duterte in response to speculation on chat groups that he had left the country, a rumor that the Palace also addressed on Sunday.

Inilabas ni Sen. Bong Go ang larawan ni Pres. Duterte kasama ang kanyang pamilya sa Davao. pic.twitter.com/hhXh8MT36q

— News5 (@News5PH) August 17, 2020

It is unclear from the photo what the president is eating, but the selection includes sausages, a platter of fruits, and a bowl of what could be humba, a braised pork dish popular in the Visayas. 

According to food and recipes website Yummy.ph, Davao has its own version of humba, which is "a popular dish served during fiestas and special occasions."

The president previously said in an interview on Rappler that his preferred breakfast includes buwad, or sun-dried fish.

Photos shared by Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go over the weekend show President Rodrigo Duterte eating at what is described as his "favorite carinderia" in Davao City.

The term carinderia for the ubiquitous roadside eateries is believed to have come from "kari," the Tagalog term for curry and related to the Filipino dish kare-kare.

The late writer and cultural historian Doreen Fernandez wrote however, that the name is a Spanish formulation of the original name "karihan" that she said was "from kari, cooked food."

LOOK: President Duterte enjoys breakfast earlier at his favorite karinderia in his home province, Davao City. (Photos courtesy of Bong Go) pic.twitter.com/5BkyCDA6ty

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) January 25, 2020

In 2018, the Tourism Promotions Board and the Department of Tourism launched "Buhay Carinderia...Redefined", a program that was meant to  "improve the carinderia's image, help the entrepreneurs behind them and present their unique style of cooking to a wider audience."

The program, according to an April 19, 2018 BusinessWorld report on the project, would have included mentoring for culinary arts students and a rating system similar to the Michelin guide.

The project was put on hold and eventually scrapped due to questions on how it was awarded to an organizer without the required public bidding.

Sen. Bong Go, the president's longtime special assistant, frequently releases photos to the media of President Rodrigo Duterte eating simple meals at neighborhood bakeries and at fastfood outlets.

This is a thread for those posts and media releases, which media often picks up and writes stories about.