On April 10, 2019, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) led the celebration of the “Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino” or “Filipino Food Month” by launching the “Piyesta ng Pagkaing Pilipino.”
The Piyesta ng Pagkaing Pilipino is aimed at promoting the vast culinary tradition and treasures of the country to ensure the transmission to future generations. The event also supports various industries, farmers, and agri-communities. Its three major activities are the TienDA, “Pagsasalin ng Kaalaman ng Kulinaryang Pilipino,” and the “Pagpapakilala ng Kulinaryang Pilipino.”
The TienDA, which runs from on April 10 to April 12, 2019 at the DA Grounds, will serve as a venue for retail selling and product promotion of indigenous ingredients from the country’s different regions. It will also feature food preparation and cooking demonstrations using the indigenous ingredients.
The “Pagsasalin ng Kaalaman” cooking demonstration activity was held at the Melencio Castelo Elementary School On April 10, 2019. It was participated by 900 Grade 5 students who prepared Filipino dishes with the assistance of their teachers and professional chefs.
To highlight the celebration and showcase Filipino delicacies, the DA will also lead the “Pagpapakilala ng Kulinaryang Pilipino” on April 12, 2019 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
The Filipino Food Month celebration reinforces DA Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol’s statement, which stressed that “the Department must go back to its primary mandate, which is to provide available and affordable food for the people.”
“It is also a marketing initiative, which seeks to assist small farmers and producers to not only promote their produce but also help them develop into entrepreneurs,” the Secretary said through Undersecretary for Operations Ariel T. Cayanan.
During the event kick-off, Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement (PCHM) member Nina Daza-Puyat shared that the PCHM pushed for the promotion and celebration of Filipino Food to bring more awareness to the regional dishes of the country. She stressed, “We should really eat local and buy local” to appreciate the Filipino farmers and fisherfolk who are the sources of ingredients.
Proclamation No. 469 declaring the month of April of every year as Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino or Filipino Food Month was signed on April 13, 2018. The DA and the NCCA were tasked to lead the annual celebration. ### (Gumamela Celes C. Bejarin, DA-AFID)
