FOOD HERITAGE Iloilo City, a bustling metropolis in Western Visayas known for its diverse cuisine, is the latest Philippine urban center to join the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization鈥檚 creative cities network for its food heritage. 鈥擯HOTO COURTESY OF ILOILO CITY MAYOR鈥橲 OFFICE
Food is where the heart is.
Iloilo City is the latest metropolis in the country to join the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization鈥檚 (Unesco) Creative Cities Network (UCCN), thanks to its gastronomic offerings.
A total of 55 new cities worldwide joined the UCCN, following their designation by Unesco Director General Audrey Azoulay on Tuesday, also World Cities鈥� Day.
With this feat, Iloilo City鈥攏icknamed the 鈥淗eart of the Philippines鈥濃�攂ecame the third city in the country to be part of the international network after Baguio (2017) for craft and folk art, and Cebu (2019) for design.
The Department of Tourism and the Department of the Interior and Local Government praised the Iloilo City government for the feat.
Both Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco and Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos recognized local leaders and groups, led by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Tre帽as and Pangasinan Rep. Christopher de Venecia, chair of the House committee on creative industries for their significant involvement and active efforts leading to the inclusion of the city in the prestigious network.
鈥淜BL鈥� for kadyos, baboy and langka, are among the signature dishes of Iloilo City. 鈥擨AN PAUL CORDERO
鈥淚loilo City is a gastronomic haven for both Filipinos and international visitors, and a hallmark of our Filipino culinary heritage,鈥� Frasco said in a statement on Thursday.
鈥淭his recognition is a homage to Iloilo City鈥檚 indigenous peoples and ancestors who passed down their customs, traditions, and ways of life, including the traditional Ilonggo recipes. It is a resounding testament to the richness, ingenuity, and diversity of our culture as Filipinos,鈥� Abalos said in a separate statement.
Local favorites
Iloilo City is renowned for signature dishes such as batchoy, pancit molo, and local favorites like 鈥淜BL鈥� (the acronym for the soup-based dish of kadyos, baboy, and langka), which has another key ingredient of 鈥渂atuan,鈥� a sour tropical fruit endemic on Panay Island鈥攁s well as the charcoal-roasted 鈥渄arag鈥� native chicken, giant siopao and fresh seafood.
It is also famous for the rustic 鈥渓aswa,鈥� a soup-based dish made out of a variety of vegetables such as squash, okra, eggplant, patola and tomato.
Iloilo City had been vying for the title for the past two years, with the local government beefing up its efforts earlier this year by implementing several food-related initiatives.
This included the publication of 鈥淔lavors of Iloilo,鈥� a 208-page cookbook authored by Rafael Jardeleza Jr., also known as Chef Tibong, in October last year, featuring heirloom dishes. Local officials said the book was meant to preserve traditional Ilonggo recipes.
鈥淏atchoy鈥濃�擨AN PAUL CORDERO
In November 2021, the Iloilo city council passed a resolution declaring the city as the 鈥淔ood Haven of the Philippines.鈥�
According to Abalos, the 鈥淐reative City of Gastronomy鈥� tag would surely boost tourism not only in Iloilo City but also in the entire country.
He rallied other cities in the country to replicate the success of Iloilo, Cebu and Baguio and be recognized worldwide as icons of urban development.
鈥淚 strongly believe that there is no shortage of creativity and innovation in this country and that this land is home to a diverse cultural heritage,鈥� Abalos noted.
Unesco, in a press release, said: 鈥淣ew cities were acknowledged for their strong commitment to harnessing culture and creativity as part of their development strategies, and displaying innovative practices in human-centered urban planning.鈥�
Joining Iloilo in the field of gastronomy were the cities of Battambang in Cambodia, Chaozhou (China), Fribourg (Switzerland), Gangneung (South Korea), Herakleion (Greece) and Nkongsamba (Cameroon).