Senator Loren Legarda said Filipino Food Month, celebrated every April, highlights the link between food security and cultural heritage, showing how both sustain Filipino families and communities through changing times.

“Filipino Food Month reminds us that food is more than nourishment. It is culture, memory, and strength. Protecting our farmers and fisherfolk ensures that families can continue to gather around the table with dignity and hope,” she said.

This year’s observance carries the theme, “Connected by Taste: Filipino Food in the Flavors of ASEAN,” coinciding with the Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN Summit. Legarda said the theme reflects how Filipino cuisine connects people across cultures and strengthens cooperation through shared flavors and traditions.

She also cited the first selection of the Michelin Guide 2026 for Manila, Environs, and Cebu as a historic moment for Philippine gastronomy. One restaurant in Makati was awarded two Michelin stars, eight restaurants across Makati, Taguig, Parañaque, and Cavite earned one star, 25 establishments received the Bib Gourmand distinction, and 74 more were recognized as Michelin Selected. In total, 108 establishments were surveyed, underscoring the diversity and strength of Filipino dining.

“The world is finally tasting what we have long known—that Filipino food tells our story, from mountain to coast, from the labor of our farmers to the joy of our families,” Legarda said."

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts, Legarda has filed Senate Bill No. 822, or the Philippine Culinary Heritage Act, to institutionalize the preservation and promotion of culinary traditions. The measure establishes the Committee on Philippine Gastronomy and Culinary Heritage under the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to conduct culinary mapping, support local food producers, and ensure the annual celebration of Filipino Food Month.

Legarda added that the same commitment to food security guided her authorship of the proposed* Bayanihan 3: Power to the People Act, which seeks to provide direct support to households during periods of economic disruption. The measure included food assistance for low-income families, ensuring that sustenance and heritage remained intact even in times of crisis.

“Food has always been close to my heart because I often gather ingredients from my own backyard,” Legarda shared. “In difficult times, these meals remind us of who we are—resilient, resourceful, and united. The Filipino table remains a place of nourishment, culture, and strength that continues to bring our people together.”