Thousands Expected to Attend Madrid Fusion Manila 2015 — DOT

Manila (PNA) — Over 1,000 delegates from all over the world are expected to participate in this year’s Madrid Fusion Manila 2015, dubbed as the biggest gastronomical event in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed that so far about 1,008 delegates composed of chefs, culinary faculty—teachers, students, top management, restaurant owners, and entrepreneurs from 15 countries have confirmed their attendance.

Madrid Fusion project head, DOT Director Verna Covar-Bunsuceso said that this year’s Trade Exhibition happening at the SMX Convention Center from April 24 to 26 is fully booked with 88 exhibitors, and 165 booths of which 30 are from Spain.

During the exhibition, the world’s leading food and beverage companies and their products from ingredients, food service equipment to fresh and processed foods will take center stage.

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) will also take advantage of the event to sell native food products to support their producers and encourage sustainable production.

Among these products include heirloom rice, cacao, vinegars, and wines are only a few among the distinctly Filipino and Spanish products. Artisanal products such as cheese, calamansi, dalandan liquor, muscovado sugar, vinegar, and artisanal salts will also be available.

It is also an opportunity for food lovers and aspiring chefs and top culinarians from around the world who have gathered all in one roof to share their knowledge in “modern gastronomy” through tastings, seminars and other activities.

The exhibition, however, is only one of the event’s three components; the other two are the Gastronomy Congress and the Flavors of the Philippines Festival happening simultaneously in Manila and other parts of the country.

About time

During the inauguration of Madrid Fusion Manila on Thursday, a day before the actual exhibition, Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Chief Operating Officer Domingo Ramon Enerio III shared his excitement in the country by hosting an event that has been conceptualized since 2012.

“In the words of millions of Filipinos: It’s about time. It’s about time that the world knew about the Philippines and what it can bring to the table, literally and figuratively in regard to cuisine,” Enerio said in a press conference.

“It’s about time that the Philippines takes its rightful place as a proactive proponent in the future development of gastronomy in Asia and the world,” he added.

Enerio, in an interview with the Philippines News Agency, admitted that it took time to negotiate the staging of the event in the country, however, the shared 300-year history between the Philippines and Spain sealed the deal.

“One thing that (DOT) Secretary (Ramon) Jimenez has been able to bring out is the fact that we have to be proud of our cuisine and what better way to do that than in partnership with a leading brand in gastronomy,” Enerio said.

“We don’t expect it to boost numbers (tourist arrivals) immediately, but it’s an investment headed in that direction,” he added.

Dining, more fun in the Philippines

Why is dining more fun in the Philippines? The TPB chief said that it is because there is so much about the Filipino cuisine that has yet to be discovered or rather rediscovered.

“There’s really a lot to discover about our cuisine; even us Filipinos don’t really know about it much. Our perceptions is adobo or what we see on the table,” Enerio said.

”In dining (in the Philippines), there’s so much taste and flavor that you can discover that you feel you’ve gone out of the country when you could have it here. That’s what makes it more fun,” he added.

Madrid Fusion Manila is only one of the major events part of the DOT’s event-centric campaign, Visit the Philippines 2015 (VPY2015). (PNA) LGI/ANP