ILOILO City – This southern city is bringing again the Ilonggo cuisine to the international arena as it bids again to be designated as a “Creative City of Gastronomy” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The City of Gastronomy project is part of Creative Cities Network, the umbrella project of UNESCO launched in 2004 covering seven creative fields – Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Literature, Media Arts, Music, and Gastronomy.
The organization aims to showcase exceptional cities that are examples of innovation and collective intelligence for the future. The city’s first attempt was in 2021.
This time, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas is more optimistic, citing the guidance of the Philippine National Commission for UNESCO as well as the city’s various food-related initiatives such as the Ilonggo Cookbook project, Batchoy Festival, and lechon contest, among other food festivals.
“Kadaku sang attraction sang pagkaon kag ang pagkaon naton indi mo makita sa iban nga lugar,” Treñas said.
The city mayor sought the endorsement of UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines (UNACOM) secretary general, Dr. Ivan Anthony S. Henares.
“Iloilo City is a gastronomic hotspot waiting to be explored, experienced and enjoyed. We have a vibrant gastronomy community with numerous traditional restaurants and chefs. Our cuisine is grounded on abundant produce majorly sourced from neighboring provinces and regions, and are flavored with natural ingredients and less preservatives. Endogenous ingredients from local farms and urban backyards are used in native cooking,” Treñas told Henares.
The city mayor added that a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy title will help guide the city in achieving its goals of growth, progress and sustainable development.
Coming out of the pandemic, Treñas stressed health, nutrition and safe sourcing became a paramount focus of the city government.
Meanwhile, Henares asked the assistance of Department of Trade and Industry secretary Alfredo E. Pascual and National Commission for Culture and the Arts chairman Victorino Mapa Manalo for Iloilo City’s bid.
“Iloilo City is confident that with its vibrant gastronomy community that imbibes generational culinary traditions and recipes resulting to a strong Ilonggo brand, its bid will pass the UNESCO’s standard,” Henares stressed./PN
