Food and peasant advocates led by Earth Island Institute Asia Pacific, along with Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and PAMALAKAYA Pilipinas, held an alternative cooking show dubbed “Lutong Bayan for Sustainability and Food Sovereignty” in time for the commemoration of World Food Month and Peasant Month.
Fisherfolk leader turned senatorial candidate Ronnel Arambulo, peasant leader and also a senatorial candidate Danilo ‘Ka Daning’ Ramos, local food heritage chef Chef Laorence Castillo, and CocoBistro owner Jaime Hernandez were among the lead cooks for the show.
The cooking show prepared four items in the menu, which were also packaged to discuss the “right ingredient” following the demands of the agricultural sector:
– MENU 1: BIGAS, BIGAS, PAANO KA MAGIGING BENTE PESOS?
– MENU 2: FISH BE WITH YOW, ANG ANTI-RECLAMATION NA GALUNGGONG
– MENU 3: #SUPPORTLOCAL: THE COCONUT NUT PANCIT BUKO
– MENU 4: OH MY GULAY!! HERITAGE HEALTHY MEAL
During the show, Arambulo used local galunggong or round scad against the imported fish of the same species.
According to PAMALAKAYA, the farm gate price of local galunggong ranges from P100 to P200 per kilo. Many fisherfolk are worried that once the imported fish arrives, the current price of their catch will drop instantly—leading middlemen to drastically undercut the price when buying from them.
The groups opposed various “import-liberalization” policies due to their detrimental impacts on local fish production. Instead, they aim to raise awareness among Filipinos to work collectively and promote a food production system that prioritizes sustainability and empowerment.
“Through this alternative cooking show, we encourage consumers to support our local fish. This is also a form of protest and condemnation against the Marcos Jr. administration’s continued implementation of unjust importation policies. We urge the public and advocates of food security to join our fisherfolk in calling for the strengthening of local production through meaningful support and subsidies from the government,” Arambulo said.
Defend Bungkalan, Defend Bagsakan
In the lead-up to National Peasant Day, various activities were held in solidarity with the call for genuine land reform to benefit local farmers, indigenous peoples, and fishermen.
Since October 13, Agroecology X launched the Defend Bungkalan! Defend Bagsakan! Agroecology Fair. The bazaar featured over 20 booths hosting local farmers from San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. According to KMP, the SJDM farmers sell directly to consumers, bypassing middlemen who typically buy their products and later sell them at cut-rate prices.
The bazaar was also replicated at the University of the Philippines – Manila, in partnership with NNARA – Youth UP Manila and the UP Academic Employees Union – Manila.
Defend mussel farmers
Aside from round scad, tahong, or mussels, have also become a source of income and livelihood for communities residing near the coastline areas in Navotas.
PAMALAKAYA Navotas chapter leader Rommel Escarial is also exploring different ways aside from just harvesting mussels. Together with his wife, they have turned to selling and encouraging people from their community and online to support their products using mussels as the primary ingredient.
In one of their promotional posts, they shared:
“Every purchase you make of our hard-earned PAMALAKAYA steam tahong gives us a renewed sense of hope. Though our livelihood may have been destroyed and looked down upon, we will rise, stand firm, and defend the work that has sustained thousands, put children through school, fulfilled dreams, and become part of our lives. We will keep fighting.”
Their tahong product offers a variety of flavors such as adobo, buttered garlic, and Bicol spicy. They also offer tahong dishes like shanghai, sisig, among others.
Navotas fisherfolk slammed the construction of the 650-hectare Navotas Coastal Bay Reclamation Project, one of the 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay. According to Escarial, the continuing reclamation has only resulted in the demolition of mussel farms, which they equate to their “life” since it has been their livelihood for years.
DEFEND CAMANAVA reiterated the call to halt the ongoing reclamation and dredging activities in Navotas City, which have caused extensive damage to livelihoods, food sources, and marine habitats.