Calabarzon aims to boost culinary tourism with pre-Madrid Fusion event

A Department of Tourism (DOT)-organized culinary event, which aims to act as an “appetizer” for this week’s Madrid Fusion Manila 2016 and boost culinary tourism in Region 4A (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces, or Calabarzon), is set to be held at a historic site in Cavite province on Monday. 

The event, to be held at the Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit town—where the Philippine flag was first unfurled by the controversial revolutionary general—involves the launch of Food Holidays Philippines, an annual culinary travel guide published by Colors Integrated Travel Media Inc. in cooperation with the DOT 4A, and will feature select enterprises and heritage cuisines.

The event is expected to introduce “Eat Your History” culinary tour packages, among others.

According to DOT 4-A Director Rebecca Villanueva-Labit, Calabarzon hopes to boost its tourism numbers by introducing the best of the region’s culinary scene to visitors.

She said that, with Calabarzon being a region where many of the country’s national heroes hail from, like Dr. Jose Rizal and Apolinario Mabini, it can offer culinary tourism to complement its cultural and heritage tourism.

Labit also said that, while the region has been known for its good food, like Pampanga, it is yet to implement a culinary-tourism program that’s as extensive as that of the province, regarded as the country’s food capital.

“We see culinary (tourism) as a very good avenue to encourage and make the destination (Calabarzon) more interesting, with the (idea) that what completes the satisfaction of every visitor is food,” Labit said in an earlier interview.

“(Since) we are (a) region of heroes—Rizal being born in Laguna, Aguinaldo in Cavite, and Mabini in Batangas, food historians are reviewing (the heroes’ favorite dishes) so that we can offer these to tourists,” she added.

Calabarzon is expected to join Madrid Fusion Manila 2016, which will run at the SM Mall of Asia’s SMX Convention Center in Pasay City from Apr. 7 to 9. PNA