The San Carlos City Tourism Office kicked off a food festival dubbed “Maghikay Ta”, in line with its 62nd Charter Day celebration on June 23 at the Bonifacio Square, at the city’s public plaza.
The activity showcases local slow food cuisines of the different barangays in the city, especially those featured in the food mapping activity of the CTO earlier.
Jennifer Saballa-Paran, CTO officer-in-charge, said the objective of the event is to promote food tourism as one of the factors in tourism management where the city can offer more unique and distinct local food.
She urged visitors to invite friends to come to the city and savor the joy of the food festival.
Reena Gamboa, president of the Slow Food Community-Negros Occidental, was present during the program and shared the history and advocacy of slow food movement, explaining it should be good, clean and fair food.
She added that slow food is an art of old world where dishes histories and hard work of the people who had invested their time in making different kinds of dishes is shared.
“It is our part in making the country better by advocating Filipino gastronomy that will bind everyone together and prevent the slow decay of national culture and identity,” she said.
Gamboa also congratulated the local tourism office for taking the initiative in facilitating the activity.
The event will run until June 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily where anyone can see how different dishes and pastries are being prepared and cooked everyday by different sets of cooks. They can also buy or order from participating groups through SCC food rider.
Present during the activity were City Mayor Renato Gustilo, councilor-elect Armando Laguda Jr., department heads and employees of the city.
On the other hand, the City Environment Management Office also had their booth in the area to showcase the city’s environmental plans as the city will also celebrate the 12th Localized Environmental Week this month. Members of the Bureau of Fire Protection and City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office were also present at the activity.*