Cadiz city: A 64-year-old cook from Cadiz City, Negros Occidental is preparing to showcase a unique version of the "pinakbet" mixed vegetable dish at the Walang Gutom Kusinero: Cook-Off Challenge national finals on July 17.

According to Philippines News Agency, Teresita Villegas, with her niece Connie Magbanua as her assistant, earned the honor to represent the Negros Island Region after their dish, "Pinakbet Mais-aya sa Cadiz," won the regional competition held in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on July 2. The Kusinero Cook-Off Challenge, part of the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Walang Gutom Program, promotes nutritious and affordable meals as a means of driving social behavioral change.

The Cadiz City version of the traditional Ilocano vegetable dish includes sweet corn kernels alongside classic ingredients such as ampalaya, squash, eggplant, and okra. The dish is further distinguished by the use of locally-made shrimp paste, or ginamos, which imparts a uniquely salty-funky taste.

Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. expressed pride in the city's culinary innovation, stating, "Our city-made ginamos makes our pinakbet mais-aya truly the best in the region and we hope in the entire country soon." He emphasized the dish's affordability and nutritional value, highlighting the evolving flavors crafted by Cadiz cooks that every Filipino deserves to enjoy.

Villegas managed to prepare the pinakbet for 10 to 12 people with ingredients costing only PHP301. The dish features fresh squash, okra, eggplant, and ampalaya, cooked with bagoong (fermented fish paste), garlic, and white onion. The inclusion of crushed corn adds a natural sweetness and richer flavor, showcasing the local produce and culinary heritage of Cadiz.

Cadiz City has previously been recognized as a two-time national winner of the Walang Gutom Awards, which honors innovative food security practices by local government units aimed at addressing hunger and malnutrition.