ILOILO City – This southern city’s gastronomy book, “Gastronomic Expressions of Our City: Iloilo — Nature, Culture, and Geography”, has brought home a prestigious honor after winning at the 31st Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2025.
Unique among cookbooks from the UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy, the publication was named Best in its Category: B25 UNESCO City of Gastronomy Book – Best Publishers Series.
Mayor Raisa Treñas expressed pride and gratitude for yet another international recognition for the Ilonggo community.
“Indi lang ini basta recipes — kada page naga-istorya sang aton culture, geography, kag sang mga tawo nga nagapabakod kag naga-shape sang aton pagkaon kag traditions. Gani, padayon naton suportahan ang aton local creatives kag projects nga nagapakita kag nagaselebrar sang aton Ilonggo identity. Basahon naton ini, i-share sa iban, kag ipabutyag sa bilog nga kalibutan kung ano gid ka special ang Iloilo bilang UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy,” the mayor said.
Often regarded as the “Oscars” of food publishing, the Gourmand Awards honors the best food and drink books, as well as publications that celebrate culinary culture and heritage from around the world.
The 244-page gastronomy book of Iloilo City was conceptualized and completed — after almost a year of writing, research, and collaboration — during the administration of former mayor Jerry P. Treñas. Composed of six chapters that showcase the flavors, stories, and heritage that make Iloilo a culinary treasure, it stands as the city’s first gastronomy book since its designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
Food historian and cookbook author Guillermo “Ige” Ramos, who served as conceptual framework designer and creative director, also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the landmark project.
“It goes beyond the typical recipe-and-photo style of most cookbooks. Instead of simply sharing Ilonggo recipes, it offers a multifaceted, deeply academic, philosophical, historical, and cultural exploration of Filipino gastronomy through Iloilo’s foodways and traditions,” he shared.
Marking the fourth book published by the Iloilo City Government, the project was a collaborative effort of the City Government and the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc., in partnership with stakeholders including the Vibal Foundation and the Ugnayan Center for Filipino Gastronomy.
It was implemented by the Iloilo City MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibition) Center through Executive Assistant for Special Projects, Leny Ledesma, assisted by Special Assistant to the City Mayor, Maria Mathilde Treñas.
Renowned cultural advocate, PJ Arañador, served as cultural consultant, and Michaela Fenix as the editor.
Comprised of six major chapters, each section was written by Ilonggo professionals and writers such as Geography by Vicente Segovia Salas; Ethnicity by Hazel Palmares Villa; Ingredients by Glenda S. Tayona and Pearl Rylene Mae S. Socias, with watercolor illustrations by Ilonggo artists Vic Nabor and Kevin Fernandez; Technology by Ted Aldwin Ong; and Recipes by Rosalie S. Treñas.
Former Mayor Treñas himself wrote the book’s Introduction by sharing his childhood food memories; National Commission for Culture and the Arts Executive Director, Dr. Eric Babar Zerrudo, wrote the Preface with a title “Comfort and Meaning in a Bowl of Batchoy; the Afterword by Dr. Laya Boquerin Gonzales, an assistant professor and chair of the Department of Arts, University of Asia and the Pacific, and a member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites Philippines and of the International Council of Museums; and the back cover blurb by Dr. Clement C. Camposano, chancellor of the University of the Philippines Visayas.
Esteemed Ilonggo chefs and restaurateurs, including Cidj Jalandoni, Miguel Cordova, Miner del Mundo, Raymundo Robles, Maridel P. Uygongco, and Rosalie S. Treñas, among others, have contributed their expertise and signature dishes.
The book has also the participation of the Technical Institute of Iloilo City (TIIC).
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia wrote a foreword for the book, where she extended her heartfelt congratulations to the Iloilo City Government and the IFFI, for their visionary leadership and dedication to the publication of the remarkable book.
“Your efforts have placed Iloilo on the global map, with the city’s recent inclusion in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network as a Creative City of Gastronomy, highlighting Iloilo’s position as a beacon of cultural pride and culinary excellence, inspiring us all to cherish and celebrate our unique gastronomic heritage,” she remarked./PN
