ANGELES CITY – In partnership with regional tourism stakeholders, the Department of Tourism-Region 3 staged Food Talks 2026 bannering the theme “Connected Flavors, Shared Stories: Kain. Kwento. Kultura.” at the city library and information center auditorium on April 24.
Held in celebration of Filipino Food Month, the fourth edition of the glagship activity of DOT-3 brought together a dynamic roster of thought leaders who explored topics on Filipino culinary heritage and advocacy while highlighting food as a powerful driver of identity, sustainability, resilience, and global competitiveness.
Featured speakers included Dr. Jay Aquino on the palengke as a living laboratory for culinary heritage, Dr. Paulo Benito Tugbang on the DOT’s Gastronomy and Farm Tourism Roadmaps, Ruben See on building resilient food MSMEs, Dr. John Paolo Rivera on evidence-driven gastronomy, Clang Garcia on documenting culinary heritage, Joanna Calasanz on how travel media propels gastronomy destinations, and Ricardo De Sousa on interdisciplinary gastronomy at the intersection of art, sustainability, and identity.
DOT-3 director Dr. Richard G. Daenos formally opened the forum, underscoring the agency’s continued commitment to championing gastronomy tourism across Central Luzon.
Partners and co-presenters of Food Talks 2026 included the Angeles City Tourism Office, Holy Angel University-School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales, as well as the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and Clark Development Corp.
Food Talks returns in 2027 continuing DOT-3’s platform for connecting food, stories, and communities. DOT-3/Punto Lifestyle Team
