In the late 19th century, Americans introduced spaghetti to the Philippines. During the American Commonwealth period in World War II, American settlers craved familiar dishes from home, like spaghetti. The Philippines relied on imported tomatoes from the U.S., however, there was a shortage. Embracing their love for ketchup, Filipino food technologist Maria Orosa invented banana ketchup, which had a sweeter tang than tomato ketchup. The dish gained even more popularity when General Douglas MacArthur craved spaghetti, inspiring the creation of Filipino Spaghetti, using banana ketchup in replacement of tomato sauce and hotdogs instead of meatballs. As banana ketchup grew in popularity, entrepreneur Magdalo V. Francisco invested in Mafran, what we recognize today as the leading brand of banana ketchup. Over time, the recipe for Filipino spaghetti evolved, incorporating ground meat and additional spices to create the delicious, uniquely Filipino version 

of the classic pasta dish.