As per Presidential Proclamation 469, April is officially Filipino Food Month.
In addition to celebrating art and culture in the food that we eat, Filipino Food Month also “aims to make sure that our country’s culinary tradition and treasures are appreciated, preserved, and promoted to ensure their transmission to future generations and to support the various industries, farmers, and agri-communities benefiting from it.”
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s celebration has been moved online following the earlier announcement of the temporary postponement for its event preparations.
“In celebration of the Filipino Food Month 2020, we are launching the “Philippines on a Plate” which is a series of online talks that will bring together Filipino farmers, culinary historians, chefs and gastronomic experts from the local food industry to discuss how we can influence local food cultivation and establish preservation initiatives that can transform the eating landscape,” Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement said.
They added that “these talks will highlight the vision of Filipino Food Month which is to educate and preserve Filipino culinary heritage and traditions. We believe that educating people, especially through food, is the best way to preserve our culinary heritage.”
Kicking off the series on Apr. 3, food historian Ige Ramos will be discussing the topic of “recognizing Filipino food as a form of art and integral part of culture.”
Philippine Gastronomic Experiences’ curator Clang Garcia will then hold a talk on preserving Filipino food culture through culinary tourism on Apr. 4, followed by Philippine Coffee Board Inc.’s president Pacita Juan on Apr. 6 with a discussion on Filipinos embracing slow food.
MNL Growkits founder and chief executive officer Carlo Sumaoang will also share his knowledge on growing your own food on Apr. 9, while culinary historian Felice Sta. Maria will provide insights about contemporary innovations grounded in the past for her talk on Apr. 10.
Lastly, chef Ginney Villar will close the series on Apr. 17 with a discussion on chefs as repositories of heirloom recipes and ingredients.
All talks begin at 5 p.m.
Simultaneous live streaming of the talks will be shared via the official Facebook pages of Filipino Food Month, Department of Agriculture – Philippines, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement and Slow Food Youth Network Philippines
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Writer: YANN MAGCAMIT
PHOTOGRAPHY JP TALAPIAN
