ILOILO City – For Kat Huelar, an Ilongga who left the city several years ago, the ongoing Batchoy Festival reconnects her to Iloilo.
Huelar moved to Parañaque City several years back. Here on vacation, yesterday was her first time to join the Batchoy Festival at SM City Iloilo’s Southpoint.
“Okay gid kag namit,” she described her first Batchoy Festival experience.
For her nothing beats the Ilonggos’ distinct noodle soup – a smorgasbord of pork offal, crushed pork cracklings, chicken stock, beef loin and round noodles.
“Always the best, ginapangita gid pirme,” said Huelar.
Another batchoy lover is 70-year-old Teddy Jordan of Barangay Bolilao, Mandurriao district. He said this is his second time joining the festival.
“Palareho nga namit pero depende na sa tawo kon ano nga batchoy (brand) ang nasaw-an ‘ya,” he shared.
The Batchoy Festival is part of the larger annual Dinagyang cultural celebration, making the season extra special.
Among the batchoy brands joining the festival are Ted’s Original La Paz Batchoy, Popoy’s Batchoy, and Inggo’s Batchoy.
SM City Iloilo brings back the Batchoy Festival for Dinagyang 2023 from Jan. 19 to 22.
Now on its third year, the batchoy fest is one of the sought-after events for Ilonggos and visitors as it becomes a friendly competition both from aficionados and the merchants who hold the best-tasting batchoy.
SM City Iloilo is among the avid supporters helping the local government in this endeavor by providing spaces and events like food festivals, gourmet markets, and more so that local food brands, chefs, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) can showcase the best of Iloilo cooking and demonstrate how the city’s food scene remains vibrant.
During the first holding of Batchoy Festival, SM City Iloilo collaborated with the Department of Tourism to put the city’s finest batchoy houses and makers of famous Iloilo delicacies on center stage, accessible to all food lovers./PN
