Abi Marquez honored for “Plantanillas” video at DGF Awards

MANILA, Philippines — NYMA talent and food creator Abi Marquez, widely known online as the “Lumpia Queen,” has earned an Honorable Mention at the inaugural Doreen Gamboa Fernandez (DGF) Short Food Video Awards for her entry Plantanillas.

The video spotlights a traditional Kapampangan dessert made by simmering egg yolks in sugar syrup until they form a thin, crepe-like sheet.

This delicate base is typically filled with latik, folded into a shape that resembles a banana or plantain.

Abi’s feature documents the Carreon family’s heirloom version of the recipe, which replaces latik with carabao milk pastillas.

She highlights the scarcity of fresh carabao milk, underscoring how rare and protected the recipe is.

By pairing themes of heritage and fragility, the video reveals how even beloved desserts can carry traces of melancholy and memory.

The 22nd Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Awards and 1st DGF Short Food Video Awards took place on September 20, 2025, at Palm Grove in Rockwell Makati, organized by the Food Writers Association of the Philippines (FWAP) and Rockwell Club.

This year’s judging panel included director Gio Puyat, cookbook author Nina Daza Puyat, chef Myrna Segismundo, and FEATR Media founder Erwan Heussaff.

“I’m grateful for this honor,” Abi shared. “Doreen Gamboa Fernandez’s work has always inspired food creators like me. I will continue shining a light on Filipino food culture and tell stories that preserve our heritage.”

NYMA Chief Operating Officer Kat Bautista praised Abi’s evolving role in food education.

“We encourage our creators to deepen their knowledge in their craft. Plantanillas reflects Abi’s passion not just for content creation but for culinary preservation.”

With this recognition, Abi Marquez further cements her status as one of today’s most influential voices in Filipino food storytelling.