PAMPANGA - A pizzeria in Angeles City has come up with a tasty way of honoring the country's "modern heroes."

The Pampanga-based restaurant Armando's Pizza & Pasta, which takes pride in the moniker "Ang Pambansang Pizza" (the national pizza), recently announced that it will be offering discounts for the country's "patriots" - including government employees, teachers, overseas Filipino workers, soldiers, firefighters, and police.

"Call it a gift, our small token of appreciation to all the modern-day heroes out there. These hard-working individuals are the new Rizals, new Bonifacios, and new Mabinis of our generation," said Marc Nepomuceno, the pizzeria's owner, in a statement.

The "Bagong Bayani" promo was launched last June 12 in time for Philippine Independence Day, and will run for one whole year. Eligible customers only need to present a valid I.D. to claim a 10-percent discount on their total pizza tab.

Although the campaign is small and limited to its one restaurant, Nepomuceno said the customer benefits will be worth it, especially during economic slowdown.

"You do not always need little bags containing half a million pesos to make a good campaign work. Sometimes, you  just need to be sincere. We may not be a global pizza brand... but it doesn't mean we can't launch a  nationwide campaign on a shoestring, especially one that is dedicated to every Pinoy 'bagong  bayani' wherever [they] may be," he said.

Armando's Pizza, established in 1973, offers a range of pizza varieties served in traditional "bilao" or bamboo trays, each priced from as low as P74 for small-sized pizzas to P366 for loaded pizza pies.

Aside from Italian toppings like salami, ground beef, cheese, and vegetables; the restaurant also offers more local pizza flavors like "Doy's Kapampangan", which is topped with "longganisa" (a local sausage), "ebun buru" (salted duck egg), and pickle relish.

The restaurant prides itself in providing pizzas and pastas for the "discriminating Kapampangan taste." Their pizza doughs are reportedly handmade and baked to a crisp, loaded with fresh toppings prepared daily, and smeared with their "special sauce" that is cooked slowly for six hours.

For more information, visit Armando's Pizza at Historic Camalig Restaurant, 292 Sto. Rosario Street, Angeles City, Philippines. Call or email them at (+6345)322-5461 or (+6345) 888-1077 or camalig@comclark.com.