Cadiz cooks take sweet corn pinakbet to national food showdown

CADIZ CITY — Representing the Negros Island Region, Cadiz City’s “pinakbet mais-aya” will compete at the national “Walang Gutom” Kusinero Cook-Off Challenge in Manila on July 17.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development spearheads the nationwide program to combat food insecurity and widespread malnutrition.

The culinary competition challenges participants to discover innovative, accessible, affordable and nutritious meals for low-income Filipino households.

Cadiz City’s unique iteration of the vegetable stew secured the region-wide championship title on July 2.

The winning recipe features a modern twist by incorporating sweet corn kernels.

The dish achieves its signature savory and funky flavor profile through the addition of locally made shrimp paste, known as ginamos.

Teresita Villegas, 64, and her 51-year-old niece Connie Magbanua created the award-winning recipe.

Locals affectionately dub the duo from Barangay Luna as the “hacienda cooks.”

Villegas hails from Hacienda Fe Palid, while Magbanua resides in Hacienda San Remigio.

Before achieving regional culinary fame, both women spent decades working as sugarcane harvesters under the scorching sun.

They also worked as market vendors, preparing whatever food they could afford to ensure their families survived to the next day.

The cooks said their budget-friendly meal aligns perfectly with the government’s “Go, Grow, and Glow” nutritional campaign.

Their regional victory earned the aunt-and-niece tandem a cash prize of PHP 15,000.

Pinakbet traditionally originates from the Ilocos region, but Cadiz is actively establishing its own distinct culinary identity with this variation.

Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. praised the women for their determination in crafting an earthy meal accessible to all Filipinos.

“Let’s be candid. Pinakbet is for low-income families. A very budget-friendly dish. Ingredients can just be picked from the backyard — talong, kalabasa, okra, balatong, amargoso,” Escalante said.

“Simple but all nutritious,” he added.

The mayor highlighted the local shrimp paste as the crucial ingredient that elevates the regional dish.

“More so with our city-made ginamos. That makes our pinakbet mais-aya truly the best in the Negros Island Region and hopefully in the entire country soon,” he said.

Escalante expressed immense civic pride in the duo’s culinary accomplishment.

“Well, who knows?” asked Escalante.

“That’s why we are very, very proud of our champion hacienda cooks. They made Cadiz proud of the mag-tiya,” he said.

The upcoming national competition aims to alleviate poverty through a twin-track approach prioritizing affordability and nourishment.

“Win or lose in the national finals, both our proud cooks deserve genuine praise for giving pinakbet an evolving nutritious flavor that every Filipino deserves to savor,” Escalante said.