Philippines Beats Japan, South Korea in Bid to Host a ‘Slow Food’ Event in 2025

The Philippines has won the bid to host the Terra Madre Asia Pacific edition in 2025. The announcement was made by Slow Food International President Edward Mukiibi at the Philippine pavilion in the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto in Turin, Italy, one of the events for the global slow food community. 

“In 2025, we plan to host several regional events, including Terra Madre Americas in Sacramento, California, USA; Terra Madre Asia and Pacific in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines; and Terra Madre Nordic Countries in Norway,” Mukiibi said in a separate news statement.

Reena Gamboa, president of Slow Food Negros (center), leads the private sector of the Philippine delegation at the opening of the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto on Sept. 26 in Turin, Italy

The Philippines made quite an impression at the global food event this year, attracting long lines of delegates and attendees with signature Filipino cuisine bannered by lechon. 

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Slow Food is an organization that promotes local food and traditional cooking, using high-quality local ingredients usually produced in small quantities. It organizes Terra Madre every two years. According to Mukiibi, the 2024 edition “stands as the most significant gathering for Slow Food’s global efforts on food policies, bringing together thousands of farmers, herders, fishers, producers, chefs, educators, food activists, and experts.” 

Negros Occidental organic farmer and restaurateur Ramon "Chin-Chin Uy Jr., International Councilor at Slow Food International, opens the Terra Madre Salone de Gusto, which was attended by over 3,000 slow food enthusiasts around the world from September 26 to 30 in Turin, Italy

According to reports, the Philippines beat other Asian countries for the right to host the event next year, including Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, all of which submitted bids to host the Asia Pacific event.

“We are expecting slow food networks in the region to come together—from farmers, fishermen, chefs, artisans to food activists, among others,” Slow Food International Councilor Ramon "Chin-Chin" Uy Jr. said of the Asia-Pacific event.  “We have [slow food] networks across Asia—from the Middle East and Southeast Asia, to Australia and Pacific—who already committed to participate. We are expecting a lot of visitors [next year].”

Murcia farmer Teddy Cañete (third from left) presents the state of the coffee farms in Negros Occidental in a session on coffee trails around the world

Bacolod was chosen as host of the regional event just weeks after the city was also designated as the hub of the Slow Food movement in Asia, through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed between Bacolod Mayor Albee Benitez and Slow Food International Director General Paulo di Croce. 

The Bacolod City government will set up a slow food international office for Asia and the Pacific, following the Turin and Piedmonte model 20 years ago, Uy said.

“Bacolod is the only place we can hold Terra Madre since we have the strongest network, and Negros Occidental has the biggest [organization] in Asia,” Uy, who is an organic farmer and restaurateur in Negros Occidental explained. “We have been hosting an organic festival since 2006 so we have a very strong network that cannot be duplicated overnight in other places.”

At the Cooks Alliance meeting, Philippine artisanal salt called Tultul is featured

The Philippines participated at this year’s Terra Madre in Turin, hosting interactive workshops, panel discussions, and immersive food tastings, while top-tier chefs and culinary experts prepared special menus that blended traditional and modern techniques. The featured resource persons shared insights on sustainable food practices, heritage recipes, and the role of indigenous ingredients in promoting biodiversity.

“The Philippines’ participation in Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2024 is a significant moment as we present the richness of our food traditions to an international audience,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco in a news statement. “Our delegation reflects the strength and passion of our local communities, with each member working to promote the use of native ingredients and sustainable agricultural methods. Our involvement underscores the nation’s commitment to integrating sustainable agricultural practices into the tourism experience, aligning with the global movement toward food sovereignty.”