Bacolod city: The inaugural Terra Madre Asia and Pacific event, jointly hosted by Bacolod City and the province of Negros Occidental, is shining a spotlight on the burgeoning slow food communities in the Philippines. This five-day event, which commenced at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon, is dedicated to promoting good, clean, and fair food. It has attracted farmers, fishers, chefs, indigenous leaders, and advocates from over 20 countries.
According to Philippines News Agency, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco expressed gratitude to the international delegates for participating in this journey to discover the wonders of the Philippines. “We are all united by our shared mission: to nurture sustainable, inclusive, and community-related food systems,” she stated. Frasco emphasized that Terra Madre Asia and Pacific is both a significant milestone and a call to action for the DOT, which is actively positioning the Philippines as Asia’s emerging culinary hub.
Frasco highlighted that the DOT Slow Food Travel Pavilion is showcasing immersive, community-based culinary experiences from various provinces. Visitors can explore culinary offerings from regions such as Pasil in the Cordilleras, Manila, Cavite, Cebu, Bingawan, Capiz, Boracay, and Negros Occidental. “These experiences, we hope, will not only allow travelers to taste our food but also to connect them directly with the people and places that make it possible,” she added.
The event also features a community kitchen with representatives from Bacolod City’s 61 barangays, where local dishes are prepared and celebrated as living traditions. Street food booths offer a wide range of regional delicacies, including dishes from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. Frasco noted that Bacolod City and Negros Occidental are not only scenic destinations but also vibrant hubs of agriculture and marine resources.
Edward Mukiibi, president of Slow Food International, expressed hope that the event would spark a movement to nourish and sustain future generations. He urged attendees to celebrate diversity and protect tradition and culture. In a statement, Negrense organic farmer Ramon Uy Jr., president of Slow Food Asia and Pacific, shared that the Philippines now boasts 35 slow food communities, illustrating effective collaboration between communities, government, and the private sector.
Throughout the five-day event, attendees are invited to explore the diversity of Asia-Pacific food cultures through exhibits, conversations, tastings, and various activities. Themes include Foodways of Asia and Pacific, Foodways-Education, Slow Food Coffee Coalition, House of Slow Food, Terra Madre Kitchen, and more.
