April Is Filipino Food Month – Has The Department Of Agriculture Been Cultivating Filipino Food Giving Value To Cultural Heritage, Towards National Pride & Sense Of Belonging?

According to Presidential Proclamation 469 signed by PRRD on 13 April 2018, the month of April of every year is designated as “Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino” or “Filipino Food Month.” My Ilocano mouth is watering, but I do not see any “food offering” by the Department Of Agriculture (DA) – not a program or activity to meaningfully celebrate the month. Why not?

(“Natural Food” image from Market Business News, marketbusinessnews.com)

In CNN Travel, Maida Pineda and Candice Lopez-Quimpo list“50 Dishes That Define The Philippines” (25 May 2016, CNN.com) (edited):

Adobo, Arroz Caldo, Bagnet, Balut, Betute, Bibingka,
Bicol Express, Buko Pie, Bulalo, [Camaron] Rebosado,
Champorado, Chicken Inasal, Crispy Pata, Dinuguan at Puto,
Empanada De Kaliskis, Ensaymada at Tsokolate, Fish Kinilaw,
Fish Tinola, Halayang Ube, Halo-Halo, Ilocos Empanada,
Inihaw na Liempo, Inihaw na Panga ng Tuna, Kamaro,
Kare-Kare, Kuhol sa Gata, Laing, Leche Flan, Lechon,
Longanisa, Lumpiang Ubod, Pan De Sal, Pancit Habhab,
Pancit Palabok, Pastillas De Leche, Pinakbet, Pork Barbecue,
Puto Bumbong, Relyenong Alimango, Sinanglay, Sinigang,
Sinugno, Sisig, Suman at Mang[g]a, Taba ng Talangka,
Tablea Tsokolate, Taho, Tapa, Tinolang T[u]gac, and Turon.

We have much & many Filipino foods to celebrate – where is the celebration?!

Thomas Kellersays, “A recipe has no soul. You must bring soul to the recipe.” Likewise, the Filipino Food proclamation has no soul; Filipinos must bring soul to Filipino food.

My way of celebrating April as Filipino Food Month is to point out that every bit of food can be the source of natural health for everyone. And the way for the DA to ensure that is? Promote organic agriculture more than ever before!

The top image says, “Pagkaing Pilipino: Susi Sa Pag-unlad At Pagbabago.” My free translation: “Filipino Food: Key To Progress & Meaningful Change.”

I do subscribe to natural food as key to progress and meaningful change. The lower image says, “Natural Food: Food from farms that don’t use artificial fertilizers, GMOs, pesticides, growth regulators or food additives.”

Brought to you by? Organic Agriculture!

And so, I am sort of expecting that OneDA, under Secretary of Agriculture William Dar, will officially declare that henceforth, organic farming shall be encouraged from Aparri to Jolo. So that the DA pronouncement is not simply hot air, henceforth I expect the DA to allot at least P50 Billion for the promotion of organic agriculture and the production of organic fertilizers that will be distributed at half cost of production to farmer cooperatives. (I prefer cooperatives to simply farmer associations because a coop has a board of directors where community interests are represented, while a farmer association is usually a one-man or one-group rule.)

According to Patricia Bianca Taculao (26 March 2022, “Celebrating Food, Culture, And The Filipino With The Filipino Food Month,” Manila Bulletin, MB.com.ph), the theme of the whole-month celebration is “Iba’t Ibang Luto, Pinoy ang Puso” (my free translation – “Different Recipes, Same Filipino Heart”).

Next year, it should read: “Different Natural Food Recipes, Same Filipino Healthy Heart!”@517