MANILA, Philippines – The summer heat may be rising, but it’s not the only thing simmering this April — Filipino Food Month 2025 is officially underway, and the country’s kitchens are coming to life with flavors, stories, and heritage from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Launched on Friday, April 4, at the Quezon Provincial Capitol in Lucena City, this year’s celebration is more than just a food festival; it’s a movement to promote local agricultural produce in Filipino cuisine while strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors. This year’s theme is “Sarap ng Pagkaing Pilipino, Yaman ng Ating Kasaysayan, Kultura at Pagkatao.”

A nationwide effort

In his speech at the kick-off celebration, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized the evolving tastes of travelers and the value of food.

“In tourism today, travelers no longer just want to visit a place, sit by the beach, read a book, and do nothing. These days, tourists are looking for things to see, experiences to try, and fun activities to do,” he said in Filipino.

This is why he believes food is the best cultural ambassador as it is the “fastest way to appreciate our culture.”

“It is very important that we showcase Filipino food. Once a foreigner tastes any kind of delicious Filipino dish, their understanding of Filipino culture deepens significantly.”

Spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Tourism (DOT), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement (PCHM), Filipino Food Month (FFM) brings together farmers, chefs, historians, students, and everyday Filipinos to highlight the power of food to tell stories.

According to DA Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, the decision to hold the main launch in Lucena was intentional.

“Not many people know that a lot of our vegetables — especially here in Metro Manila — are actually coming from Quezon in the South. We often assume it’s from the North, but Quezon plays a major role in the market value of produce,” she said, pushing for better selling opportunities and increased visibility for the region’s agricultural prowess.

The celebration continues with a kick-off campaign at the DA Central Office in Quezon City on April 7, centering on food education school activities such as poster-making, feeding programs, and interactive events.

Mark your calendars for April 12 — it’s the return of KainCon, the country’s only academic food research conference that gathers farmers, culinary historians, chefs, gastronomic experts, and researchers to talk about food cultivation and heritage preservation. It can be watched online on Facebook.

A culinary heritage forum titled Hapag ng Pamana — a deep dive into culinary heritage, with forums, trade fairs, and cook-offs — will be held in Capiz and Iloilo, with the former happening on April 6 and the latter from April 25 to 29.

To wrap up the month-long festivities, the Ang Sarap Philippine Food Festival will be held from April 25 to 27 at Ayala Malls Manila Bay. The event will gather partner agencies, Farmer Cooperative Associations (FCAs), and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to showcase agricultural products and homegrown delicacies.

Many more events are happening this month across the country, so here’s your regional guide to where to go, what to expect, and what not to miss this April!

Cordillera Administrative Region

Baguio City is gearing up for the month-long celebration, with the Halal Orientation for Hospitality Businesses from April 19 to 21, Trade Fair and Cooking Demo from April 21 to 24, and the 6th Mangan Taku Cordillera Food Fair from April 24 to 28, a sneak peek into Cordillera’s heirloom dishes and community traditions.

Ilocos Region

From April 7 to 11, Find the Juan in Region 1: May-san will be held at the upland towns of Ilocos Norte and Sur, where cultural activities and food showcases will be led by DOT Region 1. On April 14 to 16, the KADIWA Pop-Up Store & Cooking Contest will be held at the DA RFO 1 Compound.

Central Luzon

Central Luzon is brimming with activity: On April 7, the Feast of Filipino Food Delicacies is happening at Capitol Quadrangle, Balanga, Bataan; and from April 7 to 30 is the Bataan Food Fair at Children’s Park, Capitol Compound.

At Sabang Beach, Aurora, La Cocina de Baler is happening from April 13 to 20, and Agahan sa Aplaya: Timplang Aurora on April 14.

The KapamPamangan: Pampanga Food Exposition and AgriBusiness Trade Fair is set for April 23 to 25, with its location still to be confirmed. On April 25 at PGN Auditorium, Holy Angel University, Pampanga, Food Talks 2025 will be held; and on the same day, there will also be Kultura sa Kusina Lutong Bataeño and Kain Convention at Capitol Quadrangle, Balanga.

Bicol Region

Celebrating Bicol: Flavors of Our Heritage is set for April 26 at ATI-RTC V, Pili, Camarines Sur, and Filipino Food Month Fair with Kadiwa Master Chef Cook-Off is scheduled for April 30 at the DA-RFO 5 Compound.

Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas

Aside from the Hapag ng Pamana event, there will also be a Trade Fair & Market Matching in Robinsons Mall Iloilo from April 8 to 11 and Community-Based Kulinariya Workshops in Talisay City from April 9 to 10 and in Iloilo City on another date.

There will also be an AgriTrade Fair at the DA 8 Carpark in Tacloban City from April 23 to 25.

Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region

There will be Trade Exhibits from April 23 to 25 at Pagadian City, a KADIWA Pop-Up with Cooking Demos on April 22 at LGU Panabo City Grounds, and the Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino Showcase
from April 25 to 27 at Abreeza Ayala Mall, Davao City.

Caraga

In Butuan City, there will also be a Kick-Off & Caraga Culinary Showcase this April, and a Community-Based Tourism Kulinariya Workshop from April 8 to 9 in Cabadbaran City.

Going abroad

Filipino flavors are crossing borders this April! Some international Filipino Food Month 2025 events include a Pinoy Fiesta on April 20 in Shanghai, organized by FilChomSha; a Philippine Food & Products Fair on April 26 at the Philippine Embassy in Beijing; and a TROPAPALOOZA in Sydney, Australia, with its date still to be announced.

You can follow Filipino Food Month 2025 on Facebook for more details and updates. – Rappler.com