LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – The city government of Laoag, in partnership with the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), successfully staged the first “Hapag ng Pamana: Philippine Food Festival” in this city recently.
The festival showcases local food and cuisines through cooking demonstrations, featured food photography and painting competitions, cook-offs, cultural shows, a fora dubbed “Dulang: A Symposium on Iloco Culinary Heritage,” and featured booths for some 20 local businesses to sell their locally-produced food and other products.
The festival’s theme, “Pagkaing Sariling atin, Mahalin at Pagyamanin,” is centered on highlighting the traditional food and cuisines of the country and preserving the traditional way these cuisines are prepared.
Dr. Edwin Antonio, chair of the Northern Cultural Communities of the NCCA, said they are focusing on highlighting the preservation of the traditional way to prepare Ilokano cuisines.
“Nag i-evolve rin ang mga traditional dishes through fusion dishes, gaya na lang ng pinakbet pizza at iba pa, pero ang pinaka-engine ng Filipino Food Month is to go back on hindi lang sa mga mismong pagkain kung hindi na rin on the way we prepare our food and its connection to agriculture,” he said.
The NCCA and Laoag City government also partnered with the City Agriculture Office to sell fresh produce to be used by the cook off competitors in their dishes.
Antonio added that Laoag City was picked for the Luzon leg of this food festival because of the city’s rich food heritage and gastronomical tourism.
Angel Lao, Laoag City tourism officer, expressed her elation for the successful conduct of the activities of the food festival.
“We are happy that we were able to share the culture and tradition of Ilokano foods. Para sa lahat ng mga sumali sa festival, keep cooking, keep the pride of Ilokano cuisines. Ipagpatuloy natin, lalo na sa mga kabataan na tangkilikin ang atin,” she said. (JCR/AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)