• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
The five-day celebration of the first Terra Madre Asia and Pacific, led by the City Government of Bacolod and the Province of Negros Occidental, officially kicked off yesterday at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon, offering locals and tourists an array of local and international flavors.
The event is dedicated to sustainable gastronomy and was convened by at least 24 countries, each showcasing their cultural identities through cuisine. The gathering brought together Slow Food advocates, chefs, farmers, and sustainability leaders from across Asia and the Pacific.
The visitors came from nations such as Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Palau, Samoa, South Korea, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor Leste, the USA, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson reaffirmed in his speech the province’s long-standing commitment to sustainable agriculture, citing the richness of the province in organic food.
The 18th Negros Island Organic Festival was also held at South Capitol Road, as organic farmers actively promoted their products.
“It is an intentional decision to align our Organic Festival with Terra Madre,” Lacson said, explaining that “this synergy allows chefs from across Asia and the Pacific to source directly from our farmers and highlight the richness of our island’s produce.”
Meanwhile, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said in an interview that the hosting by the province of this year’s Terra Madre will have a positive impact on the farmers’ and fisherfolk’s lives, as well as on the tourism industry.
The event highlighted the participation of small and medium enterprises, local farmers, fisherfolk, and producers across the region.
“DOT is concerned about our tourism circuit and programs. We always make sure that we involve our small and medium enterprises, farmers, fisherfolk, and producers for us to see that our programs have tangible effects on them,” she said, citing that 17 percent of the tourists in the country were food enthusiasts.
The event will run until November 23, as several local and international Slow Food booths line North Capitol Road, each showcasing their unique cultural cuisines and offering visitors a diverse array of flavors to enjoy.*
