DOT Region 2 in the “KAIN NA!” Food and Travel Festival
The DOT Cagayan Valley and Northern Philippine Islands region took the stage on the second day of “Kain Na!” Food and Travel Festival, North Luzon edition which was held on October 12, 2019 at the Ayala Technohub, Baguio City, Philippines.
DOT spearheaded the program with a cooking demonstration presenting the corn-based cuisines of the DA-CVIARC of the City of Ilagan such as cornbonara, inandappel, energy ball, pansi de mangi and pastillas de mangi among others. DA CVIARC is an accredited agritourism farm/site by the DOT.
The DA-CVIARC headed by Chairman William Contillo led the launching of their corn-based ice cream, the cornbetes. A degustation table was also filled with other corn-based food products for the guests to taste.
Also during the program, partner sellers and exhibitors were given the opportunity to present their products as well as their company on stage. Among these sellers and exhibitors are Abulug Dragon Fruit Association, C.E.C Food Ventures, Lighthouse Cooperative, Z Bros Food Products, KTCM Enterprise, Department of Agriculture-Cagayan Valley Integrated Agricultural and Research Center Employees (DA-CVIARC) Multi-Purpose Cooperative, MJ’s Health Products, and the three experimental stations of the Department of Agriculture in Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya.
DOT Assistant Secretary Verna Buensuseco, OIC Jovi Ganongan of DOT-CAR, Chief Modesto Baloloy of DOT-Region 1 graced the program with their presence. The Cagayan Valley and Northern Philippine Islands region was represented by Senior Tourism Operations Officer Romeo Caranguian, Jr. and Mr. Belman Millan.
“KAIN NA!” is a food and travel festival designed to create awareness and interest about authentic Filipino cuisine and tourism destinations. It is acelebration that features local chefs, local dishes, local products (e.g. agri, arts
and crafts) and farm tourism sites with the end in view of promoting the Philippines as a center of food and gastronomy, another facet of the Philippines as a destination.