The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has named Iloilo City the Creative City of Gastronomy, bringing greater attention from around the world to the city and its best dishes, such as batchoy, siopao, and pancit molo.
Iloilo is currently one of 350 cities from more than 100 countries that are featured on the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the media arts, music, literature, film, design, crafts and folk arts, and cuisine.
“What we do is really to promote Iloilo, and it’s a good thing that we were tagged as one of the creative cities on gastronomy,” Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said.
Getting International Attention
From May 9 to 13 in Phuket, Thailand, the city's local officials will attend the City of Gastronomy cluster meeting for the first time, attesting to the attention Iloilo's cuisine has gained since being named the country’s Creative City of Gastronomy.
Another contingent is attending the CityNet summit–an association of urban stakeholders throughout Asia and the Pacific devoted to sustainable development–in Seoul, South Korea, from May 8 to 12, with a cuisine expo among the attractions.
Then, from June 14 to 22, Chef Ariel Castañeda Jr. and the sous chefs from Iloilo will represent the city at the Gastronomy Showcase of all Gastronomy Cities in Macao.
Strengthening local industry
Iloilo City emphasizes the necessity of a coordinated effort from the municipal administration, the business community, and stakeholders to achieve sustained culinary development.
To support the development and enrich recognition of Ilonggo gastronomy, the Iloilo City Council worked to pass an ordinance creating the Iloilo City Gastronomy and Food Industry Development Council.
Additionally, it seeks to create the "Ilonggo Food Heritage Accreditation System," a star-rating system that will evaluate companies involved in the food industry according to a number of factors, including authenticity, value, consistency, mastery of preparation skills, and the use of high-quality materials.
The local government's innovations and programs are expected to highlight and fortify Iloilo's culinary excellence, securing the status of the "City of Love” as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and placing it alongside other major international culinary hubs on the world culinary map.
