PHLPost Honors University of Pangasinan’s Centennial with Commemorative Stamps

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has released a special set of commemorative stamps in celebration of the 100th founding anniversary of the University of Pangasinan (now PHINMA UPang). This philatelic issue, which comes with an official first-day cover, highlights the institution’s century-long legacy of academic excellence, service, and transformation since 1925.

The four-stamp collection features key symbols of PHINMA UPang: a stylized illustration of its iconic building, the official university seal, and the 100th-anniversary logo. Each design visually reflects the university’s enduring mission to advance “Truth, Science, and Virtue” and its continuing role in shaping leaders and innovators for the nation.

The official first-day cover showcases an artistic tapestry symbolizing PHINMA UPang’s journey from its humble beginnings in Dagupan City to its current stature as a leading higher education institution in Northern Luzon.

The stamps were printed using Offset Lithography with intricate gold foil stamping, making them a must-have for collectors and alumni alike. They are now available at designated post offices nationwide.

Founded in 1925, the University of Pangasinan remains committed to its mission of “Making the Lives of Others Better” by providing accessible, high-quality education that empowers students to succeed and serve their communities.

Drive Towards a Better Future in the Cebu Auto Show 2025!

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

Cebu City, Philippines - Worldbex Services International (WSI) is gearing up for its much-awaited return to the Queen City of the South this coming September, bringing its Premier events experience to the Central Visayas region. Among these premier events is one that showcases innovation and excellence found in the local automotive industry. The Cebu Auto Show (CAS) is an extension of the annual Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), the leading premier automotive event organized by WSI, which highlights the industry’s constant push for innovation and style through the automobiles we have today.

For 13 years, CAS has integrated deeply into the Cebuano culture while serving as the platform for car brands to extend their reach to other parts of the Philippines. Cebu shows promise of further developing its road development and management plans, with the City Planning and Development Office of Cebu City leading the helm for better road safety and management. As Cebu continues to develop its roads to accommodate more vehicles, the city has also proven to have the drive to sustain its plans for better roads and vehicles.

This year, the Cebu Auto Show is back with CAS 2025, carrying the theme of “Driven by Connection”. With a platform as big as CAS, visitors are bound to experience the thrill it has to offer and find a similar vibe to MIAS. Last year, we welcomed more than 35,000 visitors to see the thrilling side of Cebu, showcasing the latest car models, supercars, and the ever-expanding and unique Die-Cast car collection. This 2025 sees CAS aim higher than before, inviting even more recognizable brands and exhibitors to further attract people to the event, such as Autoglobal, BAIC, Bestune, BYD, Changan, Ford, FUSO, Foton, GWM, Hyundai, JMC, QSJ, TJ Motors Venture, and XC. With its flexibility and speed, Cebuanos will be thrilled to see many of them that are displayed in the main hall. Lastly, with the rise of electric vehicles and sustainable energy, CAS wants to shine a spotlight on eco-friendly cars and the potential it has in Cebu. In line with this, the city of Cebu also plans to accommodate e-cars by developing ways to improve the EV ecosystem, such as creating new and more accessible charging stations all around the city.

The excitement is ramping up as we gear up for the Cebu Auto Show 2025. Be driven by connections right here in Cebu and experience the best auto show in the whole region. CAS 2025 is happening from September 11 to 14, 2025, at the IEC Convention Center Cebu (IC3), starting from 10 AM to 7 PM. You may register for free at cebuautoshow.com or follow the official Facebook page for more info and news. CAS 2025 is organized by Worldbex Services International.

From Soil to Sea: Philippines to Host Asia’s Largest Sustainable Gastronomy Event with Terra Madre Asia & Pacific 2025

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

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.