In celebration of the Filipino Food Month this April 2025 with the theme “Sarap ng Pagkaing Pilipino, Yaman ng Ating Kasaysayan, Kultura at Pagkatao,” the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 1 (DA-RFO1), through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), has kicked off the FFM through the three-day Kadiwa Trade Fair and Filipino Food Cook-Off on April 14, 2025, at the DA-RFO1 grounds.
Inviting six agri-partners, including young farmer-awardees, members of Farmers’ Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs), and Kadiwa partners, the cook-off highlighted Filipino dishes either showcasing perfect pairings or classic flavors that give nostalgic feelings of being home.
Consolation prizes were granted to the following: the SPL Group, comprised of Ms. Laura Boado, Ms. Sofia Tulio, Ms. Shirley Bernal, and Ms. Lorna Pinera, showcasing the dish ‘pinakbet’ paired with fried daing, grilled oyster, and a side order of chili vinegar for the dip; Mr. Rizalby Bueno with his calderetang baka with gata and pansit bihon; and Ms. Josephine Culbengan with her chicken binakol using coconut soup and kiniing.
The winners are as follows:
2nd Runner Up— Ms. Beverly Uyaan with the dish tinoktok na laing
1st Runner Up— Ms. Monet Garcia with the dish ube macapuno and biko
Champion— G’s Duckery’s Ms Geneva Ganalon and Ms. Razel Mondejar with the dish kare-kare with duck binagoongan fried rice.
Ms. Geneva is also the reigning champion of the Kadiwa Cook-Off from last year’s celebration. This year, they will receive a cash prize and a double burner, the latter sponsored by Operations Manager of AQN Marketing Inc. and judge for this year’s celebration, Ms. Khristine Cajucom.
The rest of the panel of judges are comprised of: Ms. Dianne Mendoza Orpilla, Owner of Kateapunero; Ms. Ruby Grace Galvez, Owner and Manager of Muchas Gracias Restaurant; Mr. Jess Garcia, Mall Operations Manager of Robinsons, La Union; Ms. Filomena Valencia-Bugaoan, DA-RFO1 retiree; Ms. Corazon Valdez, Market Specialist III of AMAD; and, of course, the people of DA-RFO1 who participated in the free tasting of said dishes.
The winner for the crowd vote goes to Ms. Monet Garcia of Aela’s Garden for her ube macapuno and biko.
The Kadiwa Trade Fair features booths of the cook-off participants and their products, so if you missed out on today, make sure to check out the DA-RFO1 FFM Kadiwa Trade Fair that will continue until April 16, 2025.
The event also seeks to highlight the use of local ingredients and supporting local agripreneurs, with Ms. Rhoda Galban, OIC Chief of AMAD, stating, “It is a time for us to celebrate and promote our local ingredients.”
Let us all celebrate, support, and promote Filipino Food this Filipino Food Month, mga ka-Agri!