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𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐝 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫

Published

1 year ago

August 12, 2025

Bacolod City- This November 19-23, the Slow Food movement’s flagship event outside Europe, Terra Madre Asia Pacific, will bring over 2,000 delegates from around the world to Bacolod City to experience the Philippines’ sustainable gastronomy offerings and diversity of regional flavors.

Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco in a meeting with Bacolod City Congressman Albee Benitez, Slow Food International Councilor for Southeast Asia Ramon Uy Jr., and Slow Food Community of Negros President Reena Gamboa, they discussed ongoing preparations for this historic gathering, organized in partnership with the Department of Tourism.

“Beyond celebrating flavors, Terra Madre Asia Pacific 2025 will create livelihood opportunities for farmers, fisherfolk, chefs, and artisans, and highlight the biodiversity and culinary heritage that make the Philippines an emerging gastronomy tourism destination,” Frasco said in her Facebook post.

The five-day event, titled Terra Madre Asia & Pacific, marks the first time the biennial celebration of food, culture, and sustainability — traditionally held in Turin, Italy — will be hosted in the region. The gathering will take place at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon and is expected to bring together farmers, fishers, chefs, youth, Indigenous leaders, researchers, policymakers, and cultural advocates from across Asia and the Pacific.

With the theme “From Soil to Sea: A Slow Food Journey Through Tastes & Traditions,” the event aims to celebrate food biodiversity, promote sustainable food systems, and foster cross-border collaboration rooted in fairness, tradition, and environmental stewardship.

“This is a turning point not just for Slow Food in the Philippines, but for the entire region,” Ramon “Chin Chin” Uy Jr., Slow Food Councilor for Southeast Asia, said in a statement. “Terra Madre Asia & Pacific is a space where grassroots wisdom can shape policy, tradition can spark innovation, and the lived experiences of communities take their rightful place in shaping our global food future.”

Bacolod City’s hosting of Terra Madre Asia & Pacific builds on the success of the Terra Madre Visayas events in 2023 and 2024 and solidifies its designation as the Slow Food International Hub for Asia and the Pacific.

Modeled after the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto in Italy, the regional edition will spotlight the Philippines’ rich culinary heritage and food biodiversity while advancing Slow Food’s global mission of good, clean, and fair food. Key objectives include raising public awareness on ethical foodways and climate resilience, supporting sustainable agriculture, and reinforcing the Philippines’ position as an emerging gastronomy destination.

The event is organized in collaboration with the City Government of Bacolod, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, the Department of Tourism, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Trade and Industry, and other national and local stakeholders.