Week-long food festival opens in Baguio April 8

BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) in the Cordillera will hold the first “Mangan Taku!” (Let’s Eat!) Food Fair Festival on April 8 to 14.

The food event is part of the summer vacation activities to be held at Burnham Park’s Rose Garden.

DOT Regional officer-inCharge Jovita Ganongan said the festival features cuisine and heirloom dishes from Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province, including preparation techniques by accomplished chefs from the respective provinces.

Dishes can be sampled by the public after the cooking and preparation demonstrations.

Ganongan said registration for the event starts at 3p.m. April 8, followed by opening rituals from cultural ensembles and the presentation of the Mangan Taku story.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat will deliver their messages, after which celebrity Chef Rolando Laudico takes centerstage with a special cooking demonstration.

The week’s schedule for food preparation and showcase of cuisine are: April 9, Kalinga; April 10, Apayao; April 11 Ifugao; April 12, Benguet; April 13, Mountain Province; and April 14, Abra with culminating activities.

In an administrative order, Domogan pointed out the need to declare an occasion to celebrate and showcase heirloom dishes.

Baguio belongs to the network of creative cities, created in 2004 to foster cooperation as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. Members from 72 countries including Baguio number to 180; covering creative fields of design, film, gastronomy, literature, music, media arts and craft and folk arts.