BACOLOD — The Philippines continues to grow as a culinary destination, hosting the inaugural Asia Pacific edition of Terra Madre, which is regarded as the largest sustainable food gathering in the world, only weeks after the country’s Michelin Guide was introduced.

Terra Madre Asia Pacific (TMAP) 2025, with the theme “From Soil to Sea: A Slow Food Journey Through Tastes and Traditions,” is anticipated to draw thousands of delegates from over 20 nations during the course of its five-day event, which will take place in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, from November 19 to 23.

Inspired by Italy’s Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, it unites farmers, fishermen, Michelin-starred chefs and mixologists, and other professionals in the field. Through immersive exhibits, discussions, and tastings, among other events, it highlights the significance of food biodiversity and community-based culinary systems.

Gastronomy is a key component of the Philippines’ national tourism plan, according to Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco. On Tuesday, November 18, she personally presided over the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) TMAP 2025 welcome dinner at Citadines Bacolod City.

The DOT is hosting a Slow Food Travel Pavilion for the five-day event, showcasing culinary experiences from several provinces and regions, in addition to smaller booths featuring foods, treats, and cooking adventures from throughout the nation.

“Gastronomy tourism is fundamentally about community. It creates markets for small producers, fisherfolk, and farmers. It keeps traditional and heritage cooking alive, it builds pride of place and strengthens local economies by allowing value to remain where it is created,” said Frasco.

“As we gather for Terra Madre Asia and the Pacific, we are reminded that food is not only nourishment — it is memory, tradition, livelihood, and responsibility,” she said. “All of us gathered here shows that we are bound by a common culture notwithstanding the differences in our geography. It challenges to build systems that honor people and at the same time protect the planet, and it opens doors to deeper regional cooperation.”

The United Nations Tourism Gastronomy Forum for Asia and the Pacific was held in Cebu, Philippines, last year before TMAP 2025 and the advent of the Michelin Guide.

The nation will take the lead in the larger UN Tourism World Gastronomy Forum in 2026, which is an international discussion on sustainable tourism, food, and culture.

As noted by Frasco, these kinds of events are creating “new spaces for Filipino food to be understood,” and the DOT will keep supporting platforms that “elevate our regional identities.”