Filipino chefs shine in MICHELIN spotlight with UnionBank

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino chefs are taking center stage on the global culinary map, as UnionBank celebrates the country’s first MICHELIN Guide recognition with exclusive dining experiences for select credit cardholders.

The inaugural Philippine edition of the MICHELIN Guide has recognized 108 local restaurants, affirming the nation’s growing influence in international gastronomy.

To mark this milestone, UnionBank and Visa have launched the Star Course Series, an invitation-only series of fine dining events curated by chefs from MICHELIN Starred restaurants.

The first event in the series is scheduled for April 7, 2026, at Celera, a MICHELIN Starred restaurant known for bold pan-Asian cuisine.

Filipino chefs Nicco Santos and Quenee Vilar of Celera will host the evening alongside Chef Zor Tan of Singapore’s One MICHELIN Star restaurant, Born.

Guests will enjoy a one-night-only menu featuring innovative Asian flavors, creative storytelling, and contemporary culinary artistry.

UnionBank Visa Credit Cardholders can secure their seats through a raffle system based on qualified dining and shopping transactions from December 18, 2025, to February 14, 2026, with registration via UnionBank TreatsHub.

The top three cardholders in dining and shopping spend will automatically receive reserved seats for two.

“This historic achievement is a moment of national pride,” said Mukul Sukhani, Head of Cards and Loans at UnionBank. “We are honored to give our cardholders exclusive access to experiences that showcase Filipino talent on the global stage.”

The Star Course Series highlights the Philippines’ emerging culinary prominence, fulfilling earlier predictions by international chefs like Andrew Zimmern and the late Anthony Bourdain that Filipino chefs would earn global acclaim.

For more details, cardholders can visit unionbankph.com/MICHELIN.