When I attended this event 2 days ago. I remember the farm tour that we had 2 years ago. (The 9th ATI OA Bloggers Trip). I learned so much from this trip, like if you’re seeing /eating a deformed guyabano, guava or any fruit for that matter. It is a sign that the fruit is organic or naturally grown. Organic fruits and vegetables taste good and sweet too, not to mention that they are free of pesticides. Since then, I have been checking on groceries and restaurants that support organic food. Then this event came up.
I have met cancer survivor owner Ms.Cherry Lo at her Sonrisa Farm booth. She was busy manning her booth with fresh organic produce during the event. I asked for a picture with her and she happily obliged.
I felt some kind of fulfillment when I attended event like these. My advocacy is that to help promote the farmers who are paving the way for a healthier generation of Filipinos by writing their stories.
I chanced upon this purple corn, also known as "plant of remembrance" is packed with antioxidants. It fights obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. Two more important antioxidants found in purple corn are lutein and zeaxathinin, which is good for the eyes.
Philippine Harvest at Central Square continues to celebrate and promote the richness of Philippine agriculture through a three-day food and travel fair dubbed “Philippine Harvest: Sustainable Living, Food, and Travel,” that highlights farm tourism, local food, and tourist destinations around the country. This is the second edition under the helm of the Department of Tourism which will once again be showcased at Central Square, Bonifacio High Street Central, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City from August 24 to 26, 2018. Central Square, the premiere lifestyle destination in the heart of the city, has been home to the Philippine Harvest series since 2016.
As an avenue where you can buy, bring home and enjoy organic, artisanal, natural, and indigenous products, the 1st edition themed “Philippine Harvest: Celebration of Philippine Food Destinations,” highlighted culinary destinations like Bicol, Negros Occidental, Cebu, and Davao. The four-day fair also served as an invitation to farmers, fisherfolk, and farm practitioners for an interactive dialogue and local food exhibition. Now on its 2nd run with the Department of Tourism, Philippine Harvest continues to celebrate good food and pay homage to the people that produce them.
“At the core of our programs and projects in the Department is our sustainable and responsible tourism advocacy which we aim to promote with this edition of Philippine Harvest,” shared DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
SSI (Stores Specialists, Inc.) Group and Central Square in partnership with the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board have brought together DOT-accredited farm sites across the different regions together with selected travel agencies and thirty local food exhibitors.
The food and travel expo will also present mini-lectures on sustainable tourism and sustainable dining, organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines.
“We hope to develop sustainable farm tourism as a dependable source of income for Filipinos in line with implementation of the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016, which serves as one of our strategies for countryside development,” added Secretary Romulo-Puyat.
Among the Luzon-based farm tour operators joining the cause are the Terra Verde Eco Farm from Maragondon Cavite, Layog Country Farm from Mountain Province, Amancio’s Dairy and Produce Farm from Cordon Isabela, Tam-An Eco-Tourism Farm from Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, The FarmHouse by EDL from Capas, Tarlac, and Amadeo Nurture Farmacy from Cavite.
The Visayas and Mindanao contingents include Sonrisa Farm from Magarao, Camarines Sur, Ephrathah Farms Corp. from Iloilo, BinahonAgroforesty Farm from Lantapan, Bukidnon, and Mariano’s Blooming Agri-Tourism Park from Tupi, South Cotabato.
Local produce from the partner exhibitors will also be bannered in the food show. These include dried seafood, coffee, heirloom rice, chocolate, craft beers, fruit wines, fresh fruits, and local sausages, among others.
SSI Group President Anton Huang said, “As we continue to provide lifestyle offerings to our consumers, we at SSI are proud to, once again, showcase the best of what the Philippines has to offer—not only for our guests to appreciate the Philippines’ finest flavors, but also to create more awareness when it comes to how our travels impact our planet. Travel has become a big part of all of our lives and this is our way of practicing this advocacy here in our own backyard, and presenting Filipino travelers with options and ideas.”
SSI Group, 30 Years of the Curated Life
On its 30th year, the SSI Group partners with one of the world’s leading banks, Citibank, to bring the Curated Life to every Filipino with rewarding shopping experiences and perks. With a retail network of over 600 stores and various retail format offerings, the SSI Group continues to make an impact on the lifestyle values of its consumers, by inspiring, enabling, indulging, and rallying them to live a life well-lived—a life that’s well-curated.
