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| (Image Source: Adobo Magazine/Department of Tourism - Philippines) |
Coinciding with the celebration of Eid'l Atha in the Philippines, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has launched the Halal Culinary Tourism Series that showcases unique culinary finds in Mindanao. In partnership with the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), the series is now available for online public viewing on DOT's social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Its launch video features Halal-certified and Muslim-friendly culinary establishments across Mindanao including Black Seed Burger and SpiChef in Davao City, Tal Mal in Zamboanga City and Hashy's Cuisine in Cotabato City. Black Seed Burger features "black seed", a traditional herb according to western Asian culture that is believed to have medicinal values while SpiChef offers the mango pineapple hot sauce. Tal Mal offers traditional Moro cuisines that are usually served in special occasions. On the other hand, Hashy's Cuisine is one of the pioneering Halal-certified sites in the region that offers Sinina Kambing, a traditional Maguindanaon dish. Also featured in the video are Babu Kwan and Torogan Kape in Cagayan de Oro City, Pater al-Kuwait House of Palapa in Iligan City, Dennis Coffee Garden in Zamboanga City, Mama Ping in Cotabato City, Tambilawan Kamayan Restaurant in General Santos City, and Radin’s Guinamos in Agusan del Sur.
Complementing the Halal food tourism program's purpose to provide tourists with a uniquely flavorful experience, the development of Halal Culinary Tourism aims to promote the culinary heritage of Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and consequently its destinations. “Food is an important part of a tourism experience. It gives us a glimpse of a place’s culture and heritage. Through the development of Halal Culinary Tourism, we are encouraging the discovery and familiarity with the traditions of our Muslim brothers and sisters,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. She also explained that 'halal', meaning 'permissible", is something that is clean and good for the health. “Halal is not exclusive to Muslims, it is for everybody. This is what we want to introduce through this project,” Romulo-Puyat added.
Aside from promoting the cultural heritage of Mindanao and familiarity to its culture, the Mindanao Halal Culinary Tourism project also aims to document culinary practices of the area; create experiences and attractions by local government units (LGUs) and private enterprises for tourists; and promote the Halal tourism industry in the regions of Mindanao through culinary and heritage mapping.
