(Photos courtesy: Quezon City Government FB)
MANILA, (PIA) — A food and arts festival opened over the weekend aimed to boost small businesses in an area that took hits during coronavirus pandemic lockdowns.
Around 100 food and retail stalls participated Saturday in the Maginhawa Arts and Food Festival (MAFF) in a Diliman community lined with eateries and curio shops. A city ordinance mandated Maginhawa Street as an arts and dining hub.
“There’s a city ordinance basically saying that Maginhawa should be an arts and food hub, so in that ordinance nakalagay na dapat (it is mandated that) every December, first Saturday dapat may ganito,” said MAFF 2023 Chairperson Jules Guiang.
“The primary goal why we created the Maginhawa community and why we encouraged the LGU to make a comeback of this festival is the vibrancy of Maginhawa,” Guiang added.
Vendors offered homemade food items, pastries, drinks and even alcoholic ice cream mixtures. Non-food products like apparel and holiday décor were also sold.
Among the offerings was a stall presenting a unique creation – alcoholic ice cream infused with 5 to 6 percent alcohol content. This delectable treat is available in various flavors and blends, incorporating beer, vodka, and brandy.
Pau Dosado, the attendant at the stall, shared the inspiration behind this concept, stating, “This idea was conceived during Oktoberfest. They gave it a try, and the very first product they created was vanilla beer.”
A highlight was a stall with handcrafted goods made by female inmates from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Quezon City Jail. A portion of the sales goes to the incarcerated artisans.
Their booth featured an array of beaded and hand-painted bags, ball pen holders, and various accessories crafted by the female inmates. Jail Officer 1 Hazelyn Himmiwat, the Development Officer of BJMP Quezon City Female Dormitory, mentioned that a portion of the sales will go directly to the inmates, assisting them in purchasing essential toiletries.
“Every product they make contributes a portion to them, which they can use to buy their toiletries inside,” explained Himmiwat.
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For those still in need of Christmas lanterns, the participating stalls offer a variety of options. Beautifully crafted capiz lanterns are available for purchase, with prices starting at P1,500, varying based on the lantern’s size.
Musical performances and contests like a Christmas carol competition complemented the retail and cuisine offerings.
The Maginhawa Food Community group, Quezon City government and civic organization JCI Quezon City Capitol organized the festival. (PIA-NCR)
