Terra Madre Asia Pacific 2025: Transforming Bacolod City into a Gastronomic Hub
Bacolod City, Negros Occidental—The Department of Tourism (DOT) has enthusiastically pledged its dedication to elevating the Philippines as a prominent international destination for gastronomy. In a momentous announcement, Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco revealed that the country will host the inaugural Terra Madre Asia Pacific next year in the vibrant city of Bacolod. This event highlights Bacolod’s recent recognition as the Slow Food International Hub for the Asia Pacific region, underscoring its emerging status as a center for culinary excellence and sustainable food practices.
Tourism Secretary Frasco at Terra Madre Visayas 2024
Terra Madre serves as a pivotal component of the Slow Food movement, a global grassroots organization established in 1989. This initiative is dedicated to the protection and celebration of diverse food cultures and culinary traditions, acting as a counterbalance to the frenetic pace of modern life. By promoting a deeper connection between individuals and the food they consume, Terra Madre encourages people to reflect on the significance of food within the broader social context. Over the years, the movement has expanded exponentially, engaging millions of passionate advocates across more than 160 countries. These advocates work tirelessly to champion access to food that is not only good in quality, but also produced in a clean, sustainable manner and fairly distributed, ensuring that all individuals can enjoy wholesome nourishment.
According to Slow Food, food transcends mere sustenance; it is deeply intertwined with various aspects of human life, including culture, politics, agriculture, and the environment. Every food choice we make can reflect and shape our values, traditions, and beliefs. Through the act of mindful eating and purchasing, individuals have the power to influence not only local agricultural practices but also the broader food systems that govern how our food is cultivated, produced, and distributed. By prioritizing sustainable and ethical food sources, we can drive positive change on a global scale, ensuring that food production respects both the planet and the people involved. This conscious approach to food fosters a sense of community and interconnectedness, encouraging us to consider the impact of our choices on future generations and the health of our ecosystems.
Under the leadership of Secretary Frasco, the DOT, through its cultural tourism team, is actively developing food and gastronomy tourism as one of its priority sub-sectors, with the commitment to preserving and promoting Filipino cuisine as an essential part of the nation’s cultural heritage. Part of its efforts is incorporating Slow Food principles to promote sustainable tourism within the food and gastronomy sector.
“With gastronomy tourism ranking very high in the priorities of the Department of Tourism under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., whose vision is one of tourism transformation, the Slow Food movement in the Philippines is increasing the value proposition of our destinations while fostering regeneration of our natural resources and ingredients, and expanding economic opportunities one meaningful and delicious dish at a time,” the Secretary said in her speech during the 2nd Terra Madre Visayas regional hosting on Thursday (Nov. 21) in Negros Occidental.
The tourism chief then relayed the good news that the Philippines has been chosen to host the inaugural Terra Madre Asia Pacific next year in Bacolod City.
“The culmination of your efforts to the hosting of Terra Madre Asia Pacific next year is only the beginning of the ascension in the Philippines as a hub for gastronomy in the world, for this is the vision of our President of the Philippines, becoming Asia’s next tourism powerhouse where tourists come to the Philippines, stay longer, spend more, savor our delicious dishes, and uncover the very many reasons to love Philippines,” she told the Negrense stakeholders.
For their part, local government executives thanked the DOT for its efforts in advancing tourism in Negros Occidental and expressed their continued support.
“To Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, we are honored by your steadfast support. Your endorsement of Bacolod City as the host of the Terra Madre Asia Pacific in 2025 signifies the national government’s commitment to uplifting local communities through sustainable and responsible tourism. The Terra Madre Slow Food Movement celebrates something near and dear to the hearts of the Negrenses–the preservation of biodiversity, the promotion of globally sourced food, and the empowerment of small-scale farmers, fisherfolks, and food artisans,” Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said.
“Negros is widely considered a Slow Food Hub in Asia, and Bacolod and Negros are not only Slow Food Hubs, but also one of the most biodiverse and unique food available in the entire Philippines. We are also very proud of the support that we have here with all our stakeholders, but I know that none of this will be possible without the support of the Department of Tourism,” Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez said, who is also the Negros Association of Chief Executives (ACE), Inc. President.
“We are very happy that we will be hosting the very first ever Asia Pacific Slow Food next year. It is also made possible because of Secretary Frasco,” Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said.
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