Beyond Flavor: Filipino Food Month 2026 highlights culture, community, and connection

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In pursuit of deepening appreciation for the country’s culinary heritage and its connections with our ASEAN neighbors, the Filipino Food Month, also known as Buwan ng Kalutong Filipino, kicked off last Monday, April 6, 2026 at the SM Iloilo Terminal Market, where the University of the Philippines Visayas is one of the partners.

This celebration is in accordance with the 2018 Malacañang declaration of the month of April as the Filipino Food Month (FFM), with the goal of inspiring innovation in the food industry while staying grounded in authentic culture and tradition.

“It is this culinary heritage that continues to inspire innovation while staying rooted in authenticity, making Iloilo a true center of gastronomic excellence in the Philippines,” highlighted Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas, who expressed enthusiasm with Iloilo City being chosen as the host of the national launch and activities of FFM.

With this year’s theme, “Connected by Taste: Filipino Food in the Flavors of ASEAN,” Treñas underscored in her welcoming remarks that the initiative is not only meant to celebrate the Filipinos’ shared love for food, but also the connections we build across different islands of the country.

Iloilo City, hailed as the first-ever Creative City of Gastronomy in the Philippines by UNESCO, continues to solidify its status as a top culinary destination in the country.

“From La Paz Batchoy to Pancit Molo, the city’s foodways reflect a living tradition, rooted in community, memory, and everyday practice,” said National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chair and Executive Director Eric Zerrudo in his opening message.

Director Zerrudo explained how the richness of Iloilo’s cuisine is not solely reliant on the unique and bold flavors but rather in championing the people behind every dish

“Across borders, we find familiar notes. The balance of sweet, sour, and savory, the use of local herbs and spices, and the centrality of food in community life,” he added.

Region VI Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Director Dennis R. Arpia pointed out how the current economic crisis is affecting the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolk, and how the agriculture sector in Panay should be supported during these times.

The FFM is a joint initiative of the NCCA, DA, Department of Tourism, and the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement. Partners from UPV, led by Chancellor Clement C. Camposano, along with SOTECH Dean Dr. Johannes M. Magpusao, faculty, and student body representative, were also present to support the advocacy of actively promoting Filipino food heritage while emphasizing food safety and food security. (Written by Louiel Jay A. Concepcion, Tibud)