The Philippines is about to take center stage in the global movement for food sustainability as it plays host to the first-ever Terra Madre Asia & Pacific (TMAP) — the largest sustainable gastronomy event in the region — set to unfold in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, from November 19 to 23, 2025.
For five transformative days, the Provincial Capitol Lagoon will be transformed into a living stage of biodiversity, heritage, and innovation under the theme “From Soil to Sea: A Slow Food Journey Through Tastes and Traditions.” The event promises to gather 2,000 delegates from over 20 countries — farmers, fishers, indigenous leaders, chefs, academics, youth, and cultural advocates — all united by one mission: to reimagine food systems that are sustainable, just, and deeply rooted in tradition.
A Defining Moment for Asia and the Pacific
For decades, Terra Madre Salone del Gusto in Turin, Italy, has stood as one of the world’s most influential platforms on food sovereignty and biodiversity. Now, with its regional debut in Asia and the Pacific, the Philippines takes a pivotal role in shaping the global conversation.
“This is a turning point not just for Slow Food in the Philippines, but for the entire region,” said Ramon “Chin Chin” Uy Jr., Slow Food Councilor for Southeast Asia. “Terra Madre Asia & Pacific is a space where grassroots wisdom can shape policy, tradition can spark innovation, and the lived experiences of communities take their rightful place in shaping our global food future.”
Paolo Di Croce, General Director of Slow Food, emphasized the milestone’s significance: “This gathering celebrates the shared products and traditions that unite Asian and Pacific communities, while showing how food can connect people, pass on knowledge, inspire solutions, and safeguard the planet for future generations.”
Starting with Bacolod in 2025, TMAP will be held every two years, positioning the Philippines as the Slow Food Hub for Asia and the Pacific and reinforcing Negros Occidental’s title as the Organic Capital of the Philippines.
A Feast of Culture, Biodiversity, and Ideas
The event will immerse visitors in thematic spaces showcasing the diversity of Asia-Pacific food cultures:
Foodways Exhibition spotlighting four iconic staples — rice, spices, soy, and taro — that define regional identities.
Education Pavilion for children and adults, bridging biodiversity with taste education.
Slow Food Coffee Coalition tracing the bean’s journey from farm to cup.
House of Slow Food introducing visitors to the philosophy and global initiatives of Slow Food.
Public Talks and Conferences addressing climate resilience, food justice, and sustainability.
Terra Madre Kitchen and Taste Workshops with chef collaborations and guided tastings.
Slow Drinks, Market, and Street Food featuring artisanal products, heritage ingredients from the Ark of Taste, and regional delicacies like batuan, criollo cacao, artisanal muscovado sugar, and Negros’ traditional salts.
Community Kitchen, where all 61 barangays of Bacolod will share their dishes, weaving a tapestry of flavors that represents collective heritage.
A Stellar Culinary Line-up
Food lovers can expect a once-in-a-lifetime culinary showcase from an impressive roster of internationally acclaimed chefs and mixologists. The line-up includes Asia’s Best Female Chef 2023 Johanne Siy, Michelin Green Star chefs like Wes Kuo and Lordfer Lalicon, culinary icons like William Wongso, and homegrown stars like Jordy Navarra, Chele González, and Don Patrick Baldosano.
The bar scene will be equally trailblazing, with world-class mixologists such as Agung Prabowo (Hong Kong/Indonesia), Sasha Wijidessa (Singapore/Denmark), and the Philippines’ own Kalel “Liquido Maestro” Demetrio elevating local spirits and indigenous ingredients to global acclaim.
Collaboration Beyond Borders
TMAP 2025 is not just a food festival — it is a convergence of governments, institutions, and communities. It is made possible through the City Government of Bacolod, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, the Department of Tourism, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Trade and Industry, TESDA, and congressional champions like Albee Benitez and Javi Benitez, alongside long-time Slow Food advocates like Senator Loren Legarda.
The event’s identity, designed by illustrator Dan Matutina, draws inspiration from archipelagic landscapes and handcrafted clay forms — symbolic of resilience, biodiversity, and interconnectedness.
Why It Matters
At its heart, Terra Madre Asia & Pacific is a call to action. It reminds us that food is more than sustenance — it is culture, memory, resistance, and hope. By gathering Asia-Pacific’s finest minds and hands in Bacolod, the Philippines is not just hosting an event; it is staking its claim as a leader in sustainable gastronomy.
As the world faces climate disruption, loss of biodiversity, and food insecurity, TMAP 2025 will demonstrate how from soil to sea, tradition and innovation can coexist, and how communities can reclaim their right to good, clean, and fair food.
How to Join
Delegate applications can be sent to nichole@slowfoodnegros.com, while sponsorship inquiries may be directed to frauline@slowfoodnegros.com. More details are available at terramadreasiapacific.com.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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