The Terra Madre Asia & Pacific (TMAP) 2025, taking place on Nov. 19 to 23 at the Capitol Park and Lagoon in Bacolod City, will feature 16 mixologists from around the world.
The event marks a major moment for sustainable gastronomy by elevating the Asia-Pacific’s distinct regional flavors onto an international stage.
With these acclaimed mixologists and over 100 world-class chefs participating, TMAP 2025 aims to further cement Bacolod’s reputation as a “Center for Sustainable Gastronomy”, and to celebrate Negros Occidental’s legacy as the “Organic Capital of the Philippines”.
Bacolod and the province’s rich culinary heritage and deep agricultural roots make it the ideal host, bringing the spirit of Terra Madre to life by safeguarding local biodiversity, empowering small-scale farmers, and championing good, clean, and fair food for all.
TMAP 2025 executive director Reena Gamboa said in a press release Nov. 10 that one key event in the five-day festival is the “Slow Drinks”, where participating mixologists will partner directly with local farmers.
This initiative aims to foster collaboration in creating distinctive cocktails and other beverages using locally-sourced ingredients. “The Slow Food movement champions good, clean, and fair food—even in drinks,” Gamboa said, adding that this emphasizes a commitment to sustainability, ethical sourcing, and community collaboration within the beverage industry.
The international mixologists include Danny Childs of U.S.A., Danny Park and Rachel Shin from South Korea, Agung Prabowo of Hong Kong/Indonesia, Sasha Wijidessa of Singapore/Denmark, Daniel Nguyen of Việt Nam/USA, Renate Spurlock of USA, Anna Ye of Việt Nam/USA, and Rishot Laloo from India.
The Philippine-based mixologists, meanwhile, are Niko Tiutan, Ron Cruz, Frances Ang, Aly Lorenzo, Ken Alonso, Kalel Demetrio, and Jessey Qi.
Selected mixologists will participate in special bar takeovers, where Bacolod’s finest bars will collaborate with global talent on Terra Madre Week, the press release said.
Terra Madre (Italian for “Mother Earth”) and its main event, Terra Madre Salone del Gusto (“Hall of Taste”), is an international biennial festival held in Turin, Italy. Held since 2004, it brings together food producers, farmers, chefs, and delegates from around the world.
Organized by Slow Food International, Terra Madre is a key gathering for discussing and shaping the future of food policy, sustainable agriculture, and the preservation of food biodiversity.
As the first regional edition in the Asia-Pacific, TMAP 2025 will convene over 2,000 delegates from more than 20 countries, on the theme “From Soil to Sea: A Slow Food Journey Through Tastes and Traditions”. ||
