Makati city: Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has urged the residents of Bacolod to actively support the city's hosting of the inaugural Terra Madre Asia and Pacific, the largest sustainable gastronomy event in the region, taking place from November 19th to 23rd. "Let us support this milestone as we showcase to the world Bacolod's heritage, diverse flavors, and strong commitment to sustainability," Benitez stated in a social media post.

According to Philippines News Agency, the memorandum of agreement for Bacolod's hosting of the event was signed by Benitez at the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto in Turin, Italy last year, during his tenure as city mayor. The formal launch of the country's hosting of Terra Madre Asia and Pacific 2025 occurred on Wednesday at the North Forbes Park Pavilion in Makati City. This event was led by Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya, Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez, Slow Food Community of Negros Island president Reena Gamboa, Slow Food councilor for Southeast Asia Ramon Uy Jr., and Paolo di Croce, director general of Slow Food International.

The five-day event will be organized by Slow Food International in collaboration with the province of Negros Occidental, the City of Bacolod, the DOT, and other national government agencies. During the launch, Frasco highlighted Terra Madre as a global opportunity for the Philippines to narrate the Filipino story to the world. She emphasized that under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s leadership, gastronomy has become central to the national tourism strategy.

Frasco also noted that Bacolod and Negros Occidental, known as the organic capital, provide an appropriate setting for the gathering. The event, themed 'From Soil to Sea: A Slow Food Journey Through Tastes and Traditions,' will bring together participants from over 20 countries, including Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Samoa, Afghanistan, the United States, and Slovakia.

The DOT will feature a Slow Food Travel Pavilion, offering immersive, community-based food experiences from various regions such as the Cordillera region, Negros Island Region, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas. Slow Food, established in Italy in 1989, is a global grassroots movement advocating for good, clean, and fair food, while protecting biodiversity and preserving local food cultures.