Iloilo City, NCCA Launch Book on Ilonggo Cuisine

In celebration of National Heritage Month, the Iloilo City Government and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) launched a landmark book on Ilonggo culinary heritage on May 23 at Manila House in Bonifacio Global City.

Titled Gastronomic Expressions of Our City, Iloilo: Nature, Culture, and Geography, the 244-page book pays tribute to the city’s rich food traditions and aims to preserve and promote Ilonggo gastronomy.

The book was published under Vibal Group Inc.’s Gastronomia Filipina imprint through a collaboration between the Iloilo City Government, Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc., and the Ugnayan Center for Filipino Gastronomy.

“This is our way of immortalizing the legacy of Ilonggo cuisine — that it will endure because more people will know about it,” said Maria Lea Victoria Lara, director of the Iloilo City MICE Center, during the launch.

The book was initially launched in Iloilo City to mark the second anniversary of its UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy designation and is now available nationwide through bookstores and online platforms.

National Heritage Month is observed every May under Presidential Proclamation No. 439 to raise awareness and appreciation of Filipino cultural heritage.

This year’s theme, “Preserving Legacies, Building Futures: Empowering Communities through Heritage,” highlights the role of local communities in cultural conservation.

The launch included a talk on the book’s development, an open forum, and a book signing attended by national officials, media representatives, and heritage advocates.

The project was conceptualized by Iloilo City First Lady Rosalie Sarabia Treñas, who served as executive director.

Cultural advocate PJ Arañador served as consultant, while food writer Michaela Fenix edited the volume.

The creative framework was led by Guillermo “Ige” Ramos of the Ugnayan Center.

Contributors include Ilonggo professionals and writers: Vicente Segovia Salas (Geography), Hazel Palmares Villa (Ethnicity), Glenda S. Tayona and Pearl Rylene Mae S. Socias (Ingredients), Ted Aldwin Ong (Technology), and Mrs. Treñas’ team (Recipes).

Illustrations were provided by artists Vic Nabor and Kevin Fernandez.

Mayor Jerry P. Treñas wrote the book’s introduction, recalling his childhood food memories.

NCCA Executive Director Dr. Eric Babar Zerrudo wrote the preface titled “Comfort and Meaning in a Bowl of Batchoy.”

The foreword was contributed by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, while the afterword was written by Dr. Laya Boquerin Gonzales of the University of Asia and the Pacific.

Dr. Clement C. Camposano, chancellor of the University of the Philippines Visayas, provided the back cover blurb.

“This book instills a profound sense of pride among Ilonggos. It’s more than a compilation of recipes — it’s a heartfelt endeavor to preserve and share our rich gastronomic heritage with the world,” Mayor Treñas said.

The book is now available through Vibal’s online portal and select partner bookstores.