Pasil, Kalinga – Slow Food Festival of Pasil, Kalinga returned this 2022 after limited conduct in the recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with grander celebration this time.
Known as the “First Indigenous Slow Food Community in the Philippines,” Pasil community have been holding the annual festival since December 10, 2017. This is following the recognition of Municipal Mayor Alfredo "Chao-ig" Malannag Jr. of the Slow Food advocacy, therefore adopting it as a festival under the local government unit.
Introduced by the couple Rowena and Lam-en Gonnay, the Slow Food festival is a global event aiming at promoting good, clean and fair food through local products and traditions.
The Slow Food personalities in Pasil carried the banner in various international gatherings and movements, as earlier reported.
In the first international Terra Madre, Rowena represented the municipality and the country and just a year later, Lam-en carried the banner in the first Indigenous Terra Madre in Sweden.
After having been recognized by Slow Food International as the first indigenous Slow Food community in the country in April 2018, Pasil delegation headed by Mayor Malannag with Rowena and Lam-en attended Slow Food International in Italy in September 2018.
Slow Food of Pasil also made its presence felt thru its participation in local festivities such as in the annual conduct of the Mangan Tako (Let's Eat) Festival and the Cordillera Month celebration.
This year, new ideas were integrated in the festival thus the need to move the venue from the municipal grounds in Amdalao to the more convenient Municipal Evacuation Center in Tucol where booths of each barangays were set up.
Kalinga Governor James Edduba, duly represented by Rev. George Manisem, along with Provincial Fishery Officer Joyce Ducyogen, Mayor Malannag Jr., Vice-Mayor Venancio Magangat, Administrator Milagros Batalao, municipal councilors, among others guests and officials graced the momentous event conducted on December 09 to 10.
Marking the start of the Slow Food Festival 2022 was a parade, followed by ribbon cutting then “Uggayam” or chant by elder before the folks settled for the program proper.
In his talk during the program, Edduba thru Rev. Manisem encouraged the locals to sustain slow food practice to continue advocating healthy lifestyle and further assured that his office will provide proper space for the municipality to bring the festival in Kalinga Day 2023.
Malannag, on his part, underscored that each is called upon to contribute to good, clean and fair quality of food by means of food choices.
Mother Earth Market participated by the 14 barangays through displaying and selling their locals products in their own booths and other activities such as food sampling under youth, adult and elderly categories, palay pounding or “binnayuan,” and demonstration on organic agriculture were then held simultaneously.
Being the top three barangays with highest sale, Dangtalan, Balinciagao Norte, and Cagaluan got P5,000, P3,000, P2,000 cash prizes respectively. Additionally, the local government unit paid the redeemed food stubs of all booths.
Cultural competition was conducted on the second day, as well as the awarding of winners and program culmination.
Mayor Malannag, in a statement, said they will try to hold the event at least twice a year to likewise help the farmers market their produce.
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