BY MAE SINGUAY
BACOLOD City – The five-day celebration of Terra Madre Asia-Pacific 2025 (TMAP 2025) officially begins today, November 19, and will run until November 23 along Provincial Capitol Road.
With the theme “From Soil to Sea: A Slow Food Journey Through Tastes and Traditions,” TMAP 2025 will gather farmers, fishers, indigenous leaders, chefs, cooks, academics, youth, and cultural advocates to celebrate food biodiversity and promote sustainable food systems rooted in tradition, fairness, and care for the environment.
More than 2,000 delegates from over 20 countries across Asia and the Pacific—including India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Thailand—are expected to participate at the North and South Capitol Road areas, according to Ramon Uy Jr., Slow Food Councillor for Asia-Pacific and Co-Chair of TMAP 2025.
As the first regional edition in the Asia-Pacific, the event highlights food biodiversity and emphasizes sustainable food practices that respect tradition and fairness.
It was former Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, now Lone District Congressman, who announced last year that Bacolod was chosen to host this international gastronomical gathering. The congressman invites the public to witness and participate in the celebration of good, clean, and fair food as farmers, fishers, chefs, indigenous leaders, and advocates converge in the city.
“This event will showcase our rich biodiversity, vibrant culture, and treasured food traditions. Be part of this journey and discover the flavors, stories, and communities that make Bacolod a true food capital. Let’s celebrate sustainability, heritage, and the spirit of community together,” Cong. Benitez said.
TMAP 2025 also serves as a platform for learning, collaboration, and renewal—honoring those who nourish communities while highlighting the strength and spirit of Negros.
The festival features a Foodways Exhibition, anchored on four staples: rice, spices, soy, and taro, while a Community Kitchen transforms Bacolod City’s 61 barangays into a living, interactive cookbook.
For public convenience, the city government has implemented road closures along Provincial Capitol Road, with a traffic rerouting scheme in place during the event./PN
