Have you ever been homesick for the flavor of home, only to realize it's the mouthwatering Filipino cuisine dancing in your head? Whether it's the flavourful adobo or the warm embrace of sinigang, Filipino food touches your heart - and stomach - no matter where you are in the world.

Food, like a proudly waved flag and language sung with rhythm, serves as an important doorway to culture. While history books provide insights into a people's history, an unwritten story awaits at the dining table. Every ingredient, flavor, scent, and color tells a story of resilience, love, heritage, and passion. The dinner plate becomes an artwork, giving us a more complete image of different cultures and strengthening our connection with them.

Our culture is expressed in the meals we like, and they inevitably become part of our identities. Recipes have been handed down from generation to generation, recalling old tastes, scents, and visuals that connect us to our ancestors.

Since the issuance of Presidential Proclamation No. 469 in 2018, April has been devoted to Filipino Food Month, or Buwan ng Kalutong Filipino. This annual celebration, spearheaded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), with close collaboration from the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement (PCHM) and the Department of Tourism (DOT), aims to preserve, promote, and pass down Filipino culinary heritage as a valued art form for future generations. 

With the theme “Kalutong Filipino, Lakas ng Kabataang Makabago,” FFM 2024 aims to not only promote and appreciate the rich regional diversity that defines the Filipino culture, but also to help local businesses, farmers, and agricultural communities.

How can we take part in the Filipino Food Month?

1. Filipino Eatsperience
Celebrate Filipino Food Month in style with the Philippine Eatsperience! Beginning April 3, Intramuros and Rizal Park will transform into bright centers of Filipino culture, hosting a year-long food fair feast. Immerse yourself in the exciting environment of traditional Filipino fiestas while enjoying an array of delicious food, from savory viands to street food and snacks, all proudly offered by local food entrepreneurs and partners.

2. Ang Sarap: Philippine Food Festival 2024
This three-day festival celebrates the unique cuisines and characteristics of every region in the Philippines, with meals made from indigenous products. This event, which will take place from April 26 to 28 at the SM Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City, is more than simply a culinary experience; it is also a forum for local farmers, producers, and processors to showcase their products and connect with consumers. 

3. Visit Filipino restaurants
Whether you crave the warm hug of a hot bowl of sinigang or the mouthwatering lechon, Filipino food has a wide range of dishes to satisfy your taste buds. Gather your friends and family and go on an enjoyable trip as you discover the culinary treasures of the Philippines right at your table.

4. Cook a meal at home and enjoy it with your family
Enjoy the comfort and happiness of home-cooked meals this April by gathering your loved ones for an exciting meal. Share stories, laughter, and love while enjoying the fruits of your labor. Remember that it's more than simply the food—it's about the joy of being together and making meaningful relationships that encourage one's soul. So, in April, set aside some time to make a meal at home and enjoy the simple joys of delicious food and companionship. (GLDG/PIA-NCR)

Source: National Commission for Culture and the Arts