Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino Davao Region Culmination

Coming together and sharing a meal is the most communal and binding thing in almost every place in the world. Here in the Philippines, cooking as a family or with relatives, friends, loved ones brings us together because we are able to share our culture and heritage through food and give each other nourishments.



Last April 30, 2019, the Department of Tourism Region XI, together with partners Department of Agriculture-XI, and National Commission for Culture and the Arts, led the culmination activity of Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino or Filipino Food Month held at Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao.



The event's guests, who are mostly stakeholders of the Davao tourism industry and some Davao based diplomats.

The flavorful feast to celebrate the said occasion highlighted the different cuisines of Davao Region, such as the following:

1. Nilotlot of the Bagobo Tagabawas from Davao del Sur



2. Kagikit of Kagan tribes given a modern twist by Hijo Resorts Davao



3. Piyaren Udang of Marco Polo



4. Beef Kulma , Tausug's popular dish by Dusit D2 Davao



5. Lolob Adlai cooked in Agik-ik leaves of Davao Occidental



6. Popular pastil of Maguindanaons prepared by Waterfront Insular Hotel


Photo credit: DOTXI

Some of the Davao local popular dishes were also given modern take, such as:

7. Native Chicken Adobo



8. Bulcachong or the Davao's popular version of bulalo using carabao meat


Photo credit: DOTXI

9. Kinilaw of Davao with salted eggs




Davao's most popular produce - durian, mangosteen, cacao and bananas were also highlighted in the feast. Seda Abreeza's durian panna cotta and mangosteen peanut oat bars.


Mangosteen Peanut Oat Bars

Durian Panna Cotta


IChef's flourless Davao chocolate cake and marang puff.




And my favorite Gatchips' banana chips which I really enjoyed eating and also loved by many.



Meanwhile, the most popular kakanins or snacks from the provinces were also indulged during the occasion, such as the bibingka or rice cake of Mers in Davao del Sur and the famous empanada of Seaside Restaurant in Davao Oriental.






Other Davao Region based stakeholders who took part in the culinary feast are Villa Margarita Catering and Lao Integrated Farms, Inc.


DOT-XI Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan in her message explained that the occasion is in line with the month-long celebration of Filipino Food Month, spearheaded by the NCCA and DA as stated in Presidential Proclamation Number 469. Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino or Filipino Food Month is primarily aims to promote and preserve the culinary tradition as a support to various agricultural and cultural communities in the region.




"The Department believes in the importance of culinary arts and traditions in the identity of the Filipinos, the importance of putting premium to local products and how it forms and transforms our consciousness," Director Tan said.



Guest speaker Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol emphasized in his message that the month-long celebration also provides credit to the Filipino farmers who tirelessly maintain the agricultural industries vibrant and make culinary traditions possible.


Food is a great vehicle for sharing culture with people from different backgrounds, some of the coolest experiences because we would get to taste and share dishes from all over the world. Being able to make a dish and share that with people you love is one of the most universal idea because it's at the root of our survival -- the survival of our Davao Region Food Culture.

And yes, we all have to eat and being able to learn how to make a recipe from our ancestors is one of the oldest traditions in mankind and to incorporate with modern way cooking is a great challenge to create new flavors pairings presented in an artistic way.




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