The Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement (PCHM) once again joined forces in kick-starting the 2025 Filipino Food Month (FFM) celebration during a media launch at the Manila Prince Hotel, Ermita on March 21.
Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 469, series of 2018, the FFM—also called Buwan ng Kalutong Filipino in the vernacular—is observed every April to conserve, promote, and popularize Filipino cuisine as a national culinary heritage. This is further supported by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among the DA, DOT, NCCA, and the PCHM in 2021 for a collaborative spearheading of the said celebration.
Centering on the theme, “Sarap ng Pagkaing Pilipino, Yaman ng Ating Kasaysayan, Kultura, at Pagkatao,” this year’s FFM aims to highlight local agricultural produce as essential ingredients in Filipino cuisine, strengthen partnerships with stakeholders from various sectors, and establish a network of public and private actors to institutionalize the annual event.
The media launch also bore witness to the unveiling of the new FFM logo, which embodies the rich agricultural and culinary heritage of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao by showcasing key agricultural products from each major island group. It is also inspired by the colors of the Philippine flag, symbolizing unity, pride, and resilience in preserving and promoting Filipino cuisine.
The 2025 FFM will officially commence on April 4 with a Nationwide Kick-off Celebration at the Quezon Provincial Capitol Grounds. This will be followed by an official opening ceremony at the DA Central Office and Mines Elementary School in Quezon City on April 7.
The month-long celebration will also feature various activities including the KAINCON Filipino Food Conference on April 12, the AngSarap! Philippine Food Festival on April 25 to 27, and the FFM Culminating Event also on April 27. The DA-Regional Field Offices (RFOs) and the international community will also conduct their respective activities throughout the month. ### (Text by Krystelle Ymari A. Vergara; Photos by Adonis V. Buhayan, DA-AFID)
