The publisher adds two touchstone books by renowned writer Doreen Fernandez, and her frequent collaborator Edilberto N. Alegre, to its selection of must-have Philippine classics.
There’s an entire world of Philippine literature that deserves to be cherished and celebrated. Since its establishment, local publisher Exploding Galaxies has strived to do just that, not only republishing lost classics of Philippine writing, but also translating their brilliance for a new generation of readers through thoughtful design and production.
So far, Exploding Galaxies has published exceptional works like Wilfrido D. Nolledo’s But for the Lovers, Linda Ty-Casper’s The Three-Cornered Sun, and Erwin E. Castillo’s The Firewalkers. This October, it’s adding two new titles to its collection: Sarap: Essays on Philippine Food and Palayok: Philippine Food Through Time, On Site, In the Pot.
The books—which stand as touchstone pieces of Philippine food literature by two of its most enduring voices—will be launched simultaneously, beautifully designed to be collected as a pair (though they may be purchased individually). They mark the publisher’s first venture outside the fiction category, and one can think of no better titles to represent the milestone.
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About Sarap and Palayok
Both Sarap and Palayok haven’t been republished since their first publications (1988 and 2000, respectively), yet demand for new editions of the books hasn’t waned.
Sarap: Essays on Philippine Food features a selection of essays written and compiled by Fernandez and Alegre about the life and ways of Filipino food. In the new edition by Exploding Galaxies, the essays are accompanied by the work of four illustrators: Gianne Encarnacion, Kitty Jardenil, Elle Shivers, and Eva Yu. The book was designed by Kristian Henson.
Hailed as “effortlessly elegant” when it was first published, Fernandez’s Palayok: Philippine Food through Time, on Site, in the Pot presents the origins and evolution of Philippine cuisine to the then-present. In this new edition, Fernandez’s writing is accompanied by photographs by Jilson Tiu of the eateries and arteries of Manila, of first catches and ferments, of kitchens, tables, and fiestas all over the country. The book was designed by Miguel Mari.
About Doreen G. Fernandez And Edilberto N. Alegre
To this day, Fernandez is remembered for being a pioneer in the field of food writing, having ran the popular column “In Good Taste” in the Philippine Daily Inquirer until her death in 2002. She turned the archipelago’s beloved dishes into poetic deep dives that capture the pulse of our culture and history. An incomparable teacher and scholar, she served as professor and chair of the departments of English and Communication and Interdisciplinary Studies at Ateneo de Manila University.
Alegre also made great contributions to the field of Filipino food scholarship and writing, being a poet and researcher whose special concern was the shape and shaping of Philippine culture as revealed in language and literature, and as manifested in popular culture. Aside from writing the column “Pinoy na Pinoy” for Business World (which ran for almost 20 years), he published several works on Philippine culture and food, including his collaborations with Fernandez, who described him as an “indefatigable editor, dear friend, and comrade of many battles.”
Starting October 15, 2025, both books will be available to purchase via Exploding Galaxies’ website, www.explodinggalaxies.com, and in select branches of National Book Store, Fully Booked, Kultura, Mt. Cloud Bookshop (Baguio), Everything’s Fine (Makati). Limited-edition slipcases can also be purchased via the website, until stocks last.
Photos courtesy of Exploding Galaxies.
