Advocating for food sovereignty through local pork production and consumption as being key to food safety and security, the National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc. (NatFed) mounted the country’s first Hog Fest from March 1–5, 2024, at Araneta City, Cubao.
The five-day event featured a variety of activities and programs for individuals, businesses, communities, and even families, including a pop-up bazaar, nine-course degustation dinner, and an interactive conference for backyard hog farmers.
HogFest 2024 opened with the NatFed Guinness World Records Attempt for the biggest number of unique pork dishes on display last March 1, at the Quantum Skyview, Upper Ground B of Gateway Mall 2. Top culinary, hospitality, and tourism schools contributed entries, adjudicated by Guinness World Records representative. This new category is unique and innovative in the traditonal industry of hog raising, raising awareness on the variety of curated pork dishes in the Philippine regions. It was presented by Cargill and Purina, and brought to the public by Ceva and Premium, with products from Purefoods, in cooperation with Gateway 2, Araneta City and the Department of Tourism, with support from RestoPH and culinary schools led by Lyceum of the Philippines. NatFed ended the epic day with a new world record; whoops of victory were heard as the adjudicator announced that 313 unique dishes were officially counted.
The activity center of Quantum Skyview was the display area for over a ton of pork cooked in varied ways, including a deconstructed sinigang, a modern lechon, pulled pork, siomai, meatballs, varied creative ways of using tocino in dishes, and many, many more.
The Quantum Skyview then played host to Panindang Pinoy, a pork and pork products pop-up bazaar, on March 2 and 3, with 20 merchants with premium products for sale.
Highlighting the country’s rich culinary culture in one extraordinary dinner was Farm to Fork, a journey across the Philippine island’s flavors through pork. Event ticket holders enjoyed a curated nine-course pork meal while learning interesting trivia and stories surrounding well-loved, iconic dishes from all over the country. Topbilled by renowned chefs Dedet dela Fuente, Mikel Zaguirre, Rolando Laudico, Miggy Moreno, Kalel Chan, Tatung Sarthou, Karla Reyes, Jackie Laudico, and EJ Buenaflor, the event transformed Hotel Novotel’s Monet 1 and 2 lush setting for the gastronomical feast, held at 6 pm on March 4.
A seminar aimed at transferring knowledge and technology was also held on HogFest’s closing day. On March 5 at the Renaissance Conventon Center of Riverbanks, Marikina City, the Backyard Farmers’ Livelihood Conference featured experts discussing and engaging with attendees through interesting topics on hog diseases, scenario setting for business survival, and successful repopulation. Various institutions and agencies were on hand to offer advice and assistance. A total of 193 participants braved the traffic and heat. Uratex monobloc chairs and tables were provided, and a sumptuous lunch served by The Aristocrat Restaurant along with snacks and food samples from Rapsarap, Robina Farms, and Fresh Options.
