• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The 2026 Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival opened yesterday at the temporary Manokan Country site in SM City Bacolod, coinciding with the city’s official push for international culinary recognition.
The opening of the three-day festival, established under a 2009 ordinance, comes as the City Mayor Greg Gasataya announced the submission on Thursday of its application for the UNESCO Creative Cities Network to be named a City of Gastronomy for 2027.
Gasataya noted that the inasal festival and the UNESCO bid both center on institutionalizing Bacolod’s identity as a culinary hub for chicken inasal.
Led by Councilors Celia Flor and Jason Villarosa, the event features cultural programs alongside corporate social responsibility, which include the distribution of chicken inasal meals to various local orphanages.
Following the opening day, the event moves to Megaworld’s The Upper East on Saturday, May 30, for the Grand Chicken Inasal Parade and a festival dance performance.
The activities will conclude on Sunday, May 31, at Ayala Malls Capitol Central, which will host a culinary cook-off and a food-and-beer pairing event.*
