The Philippines shines at Terra Madre 2026
Philippine delegates gathered in Turin, Italy for Terra Madre 2026, bringing with them the diverse food traditions, local products, and stories of communities from across the country.
The Philippine booth became one of the most visited and talked-about spaces at this Slow Food International biennale reflecting growing international interest in Philippine food traditions.
The International Promotion Program for Terra Madre Asia & Pacific (TMAP) 2027 on day one brought together Philippine officials and Slow Food International representatives. This was attended by Rep. Javier “Javi” Lopez Benitez of the 3rd District of Negros Occidental; Rep. Laarni Roque of the 4th District of Bukidnon; Gov. James Edduba of Kalinga; Tourism attaché Jerome Diaz of Department of Tourism (DOT) London; director Paulo Tugbang of the DOT Office of Product Development; and Regional Director (RD) Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez of DOT Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region. Slow Food’s president Eddie Mukiibi and director general Paolo di Croce attended as well, with newly-elected board member of Slow Food International, Ramon “Chinchin” Uy, Jr.—who was one of the people responsible for making Bacolod City the Asia-Pacific Hub of Slow Food.
RD Rodriguez shared, “TMAP 2025 was a milestone, but it was also a beginning. The work of our communities continues, and we are carrying that experience forward to 2027.”
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Congressman Benitez announced that the next TMAP will be held in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
The Philippine booth welcomed a steady stream of visitors, highlighting the diversity of the country’s food culture and focusing on the food of Luzon on the second day. The Philippine experience in developing Slow Food Travel took center stage at Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2026 as RD Rodriguez joined the international panel discussion, where she shared a simple but important principle behind the Philippine approach: Communities already have the story. The role of tourism, she explained, is not to create something artificial for visitors, but to help communities share what is already authentic and meaningful.
The Philippine booth on the third day offered visitors a taste of the Visayas, showcasing the region’s diverse food heritage, local products, and the communities and producers behind them.
A special performance of tinikling by the Filipino community in Turin gathered a huge crowd at the historic Piazza Castello at the city center, bringing one of the Philippines’ most beloved traditional dances to the international Terra Madre audience.
The third day also provided an opportunity for deeper international exchange through a meeting with Slow Food Carinthia (Austria’s least densely populated state in the Eastern Alps). The discussion explored opportunities for both communities to learn from each other’s experiences in developing Slow Food Travel and culinary tourism.
The Philippine team invited the Slow Food Carinthia delegation to participate in a cross-cultural travel exchange in the Philippines, allowing the Carinthia delegation to experience Philippine culinary tourism while sharing technical expertise and practices with local communities and creating opportunities for reciprocal learning.
The DOT will focus on pilot-testing the “Slow Food Village” model in selected communities with the necessary producer, school, market, and dining infrastructure and will develop an official Philippine Slow Food Directory to formally recognize verified establishments, explore partnerships with major online travel platforms to make these more accessible to travelers, and assess how Carinthia’s modular, build-your-own itinerary approach can be adapted to the Philippines.
The Philippine participation in Terra Madre is not only about bringing our food to the world but also about bringing home new ideas, partnerships, and opportunities.
The fourth day was Mindanao Day and the Philippine booth was probably the most visited booth of the final day until closing time. The demand for Philippine food was strong as seen with the long queues. One of the most unique dishes the pavilion served was Piyanggang a Manuk, a traditional Tausug chicken stew from Southwestern Mindanao made with burnt coconut and other spices. Its distinctive look probably was one of the factors that made people line up for this and gave visitors a taste of Tausug culinary heritage.
Hollywood actor Rob Schneider, who is of Filipino descent, visited the Philippine booth where he enjoyed the food and hospitality of the Filipino delegation. He was in Turin filming “Grown Ups 3” with Adam Sandler and Chris Rock.
Beyond food, the interest extended to Philippine beverages, with visitors sampling cacao-based hot chocolate, coffee, rice wine or tapuy, lambanog, and other traditional drinks. There was still a line when security requested the booth to close by 8 pm. As the Philippine showcase came to an end, the four-day participation demonstrated the richness and diversity of the Philippines and the communities that continue to keep these traditions alive.
The story of this Philippine journey at Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2026 continues next week.
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