Pasil, Kalinga – The first and only Indigenous Slow Food Community in the Philippines represented the country in the first-ever Slow Food International Forum conducted from April 26 – 30, 2023 in Taitung, Taiwan.
Pasil Slow Food Community founders Lam-en and his better half Rowena Gonnay were sent by the municipal government of Pasil under the leadership of Alfredo “Chao-ig” Malannag Jr. to the five-day global event.
For over three decades now, the Slow Food movement which promotes traditional cooking methods with organic ingredients for “good, clean, and fair foods” has been gaining global popularity. Originated in Italy, the movement likewise seeks to address biodiversity loss and climate crisis.
Coinciding with the 10th Taitung Slow Food Festival, this year’s forum gathered Slow Food communities from the Philippines, India, Italy, and Malaysia at the Taitung County Government Great Hall to connect diversified food culture and further explore the flourishing movement.
The Gonnay couple were among those who served as speakers in the Slow Food Talk, sharing insights and experiences from traditional farming methods to biodiversity conservation that they are practicing in Pasil town.
All practitioners had an exchange of ideas through the discussions anchored on the theme, “From Festivities to Daily Zest, Tradition, and Modernity at Their Best.” With translations offered in English and Mandarin Chinese, participants were to deliberate on spreading the movement’s impact in contemporary times.
Rowena observed the traditional agriculture practices in the Slow Food communities that they visited have similarities with what is being done in the Cordillera region.
The Philippine representatives felt astonished to learn that the rice seeds in the host country were from Luzon parts.
The couple had an opportunity to savor the local cuisines such as teas, rice dishes, roasted coffees, and baked goods, among other foods prepared by chefs and the community.
On their part, the two shared the recipe and the cooking and preparation of ‘kinarut’, a rice-based breakfast with young pigeon peas.
They were grateful to the stakeholders for providing them the chance to share with the world the enriched Pasil Slow Food Community. They especially mentioned Taitung Slow Food and the County Government of Taitung for their sponsorship.
In addition, they recognized Pasil LGU family - Mayor Malannag Jr., Administrator Milagros Batalao and the Office of the Agricultural Services for granting them permission to attend the paramount event.
“We learned a lot and [we] hope to share it to our family, our community/municipality and the region, to be included in our Slow Food/Organic Agriculture advocacy. Long Live Slow Food Taitung, Taiwan,” concluded Rowena.
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