Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco sat down with Bacolod Representative Albee Benitez; Ramon Uy, Jr. of Slow Food International Councilor for Southeast Asia; and Reena Gamboa, President of the Slow Food Community of Negros, in a meeting to finalize all preparations for the first-ever Terra Madre Asia-Pacific (TMAP) 2025, happening on November 19–23, 2025 in Bacolod City.
“It is an honor to see Bacolod City chosen as the host of Terra Madre Asia Pacific 2025 this November. Thank you to the Department of Tourism headed by Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, Slow Food International Councilor for Southeast Asia Ramon Uy Jr., and Slow Food Community of Negros President Reena Gamboa for working together to make this possible,” Bacolod City Rep. Albee Benitez said.
In line with the Marcos Administration’s thrust to position the Philippines as a tourism powerhouse in Asia, the DOT has identified gastronomy tourism as among its priority tourism products—supporting events such as Terra Madre Asia-Pacific 2025.
Terra Madre Asia-Pacific 2025 is dubbed as the largest sustainable food gathering in the region.
Dubbed as the largest sustainable food gathering in the region, Terra Madre Asia-Pacific 2025 will bring together farmers, fishers, indigenous communities, chefs, food artisans, youth, academics, policymakers, and advocates from more than 20 countries, including Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Samoa, Afghanistan, the United States, and Slovakia, to Bacolod City.
The event is the Asia-Pacific edition of the global Terra Madre movement founded in Italy, which champions good, clean, and fair food while celebrating biodiversity and safeguarding local food cultures.
“This is a proud moment for Bacolod and an opportunity to showcase our people, flavors, and heritage to the world.”
“This is a proud moment for Bacolod and an opportunity to showcase our people, flavors, and heritage to the world,” the legislator said.
In support of this five-day event, the DOT will host a Slow Food Travel Pavilion, featuring immersive, community-based food experiences from various regions including Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Negros Island Region (NIR), CALABARZON (Region IV-A), Western Visayas (Region VI), Central Visayas (Region VII), among others.
These six regions with recognized Slow Food communities will showcase signature heritage dishes at the Street Food area to highlight the country’s culinary diversity on the international stage.
Founded in Italy in 1989, Slow Food is a global grassroots movement that champions good, clean, and fair food, safeguards biodiversity, and preserves local food cultures.
Also present at the meeting were DOT Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano; Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso; Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines Chief Operating Officer Marga Nograles; Assistant Secretary Ina Zara Loyola; Director Paulo Benito Tugbang; and Head Executive Assistant Frances Jan Villarino, with DOT Region VI and concurrent DOT-NIR Regional Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez joining remotely.
