Tales from the dining table
Kuwentong Pagkain presents its panel of judges
Mga Kuwentong Pagkain, (MKP), an annual storytelling contest focused on Filipino food heritage, garnered more than 350 entries on its Dec. 31 deadline last year. These entries have come from various countries—the US,
Sweden, Austria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Malaysia, among others. The task of choosing the best stories in the essay, photo essay, and video categories now falls on a distinguished panel of judges representing various academic and culinary disciplines.
Felice Prudente Sta. Maria
A renowned Filipino culinary historian and culture advocate, Felice Prudente Sta. Maria is the author of numerous groundbreaking books on food literature such as which was published in 2021 and which released a Teresita ‘Mama Sita’ Reyes birth centennial edition in 2017.
Rosario O. Lapus, Ph.D.
Rosario O. Lapus built a lifelong career focused on academic administration, teaching, research, and community service. She holds post graduate degrees in these disciplines from various local and international universities, including Harvard University. She was president of Miriam College from 2010 to 2019, and previously chairperson of the Consortium of Women’s Colleges in the Philippines. She regularly acted as a judge at the Palanca Literary Awards.
Michaela ‘Micky’ Fenix
Philippine Regional Cuisines,
These professionals know the value of good storytelling and the importance of celebrating Filipino foodways to create meaningful connections in an increasingly globalized world.
These are the members of the sixmember panel.
Paolo Ven B. Paculan Nina Daza-Puyat
A celebrated home cook, author, and culinary advocate, Nina Daza-Puyat’s commitment to making Philippine cuisine accessible and relevant was made evident during her stint as editor-in-chief of
a food magazine, from 2011 to 2017. She has also authored several cookbooks, including a revival of the classic
which was written by her late mother, culinary icon Nora Daza, and first published in 1965.
MKP, an initiative of the Mama Sita Foundation, began as a storytelling competition in 2012 with the purpose of building a reservoir of interesting food tales from the country’s various regions. After a decade it continues to promote narratives that enrich Philippine culinary heritage. It has become even more relevant now with the need for the younger generation, overseas Filipinos especially, to know and understand their roots through food and culture.
Ige Ramos
A multi-awarded book designer, food writer, visual artist, and ardent promoter of Philippine culinary heritage, Ige Ramos owns IRDS Books-Republic of Taste Food Network, a multidisciplinary platform for publishing, book design, research, comparative gastronomy, and public policy. His latest book, was published in 2022.
Most submissions focus on cherished family recipes, hometown culinary traditions, regional food folklore, and locally grown crops and spices.
Most submissions focus on cherished family recipes, hometown culinary traditions, regional food folklore, and locally grown crops and spices.
MKP celebrates the uniqueness of Filipino food and the stories that continue to shape it. To make room for more creativity and style in sharing food stories, separate categories were set up for essay, photo, and video formats, with each offering prizes up to ₱20,000 in cash. Winners for MKP 2022 will be announced in March.