ILOILO City is representing the Philippines to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization (Unesco) Creative Cities Network (UCCN) contest this year.

"As Iloilo City is now the country's official candidate for the Unesco Creative City for Gastronomy, we will work extra hard so that we will get the Unesco award," stressed Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.

The UNESCO-Philippine National Commission (Unacom), with Department of Trade and Industry, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Department of Foreign Affairs, League Cities of the Philippines, and Office of Congressman Christopher Toff de Venecia, with support from Baguio and Cebu UNESCO Creative Cities, endorses Iloilo City's bid to this year's Call under the field of Gastronomy.

Iloilo City has laid the groundwork through innovation where food reinforces abundance or “bugana” in the Ilonggo language, as manifested in its annual fiestas such as the famous Dinagyang Food Festival, Sabores de Visayas, Paraw Regatta; and Mercado Iloilo Weekend Market and Trade Fair.

“The application is a heartfelt tribute to their indigenous people and ancestors who passed down our customs, traditions, and ways of life,” Unacom stated on its Facebook post.

“It has also integrated gastronomy as a pillar of sustainable city development, establishing the Iloilo City Gastronomy Council that harmonizes efforts of the public office and the civil society,” it added. (PR)