Iloilo City has been officially recognized as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, making it the first city in the Philippines to join the prestigious Creative Cities Network in the gastronomy category, as announced by UNESCO on Tuesday, October 31.
The city’s journey to this esteemed title spanned over two years, during which it intensified its dedication to promoting its unique culinary heritage. Earlier this year, as part of its efforts, Iloilo City launched the “Flavors of Iloilo” cookbook.
UNESCO’s latest induction included 54 cities from various fields. Alongside Iloilo City in the gastronomy category are Battambang from Cambodia, Chaozhou from China, Fribourg from Switzerland, Gangneung from South Korea, Herakleion from Greece, and Nkongsamba from Cameroon.
The Creative Cities Network by UNESCO, established in 2004, honors cities worldwide that prioritize creativity as a crucial element for sustainable urban development. The network classifies these cities into seven fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music.
Cities included in the network not only celebrate their cultural and creative achievements but are also called upon to collaborate with fellow members. Their collective aim is to strengthen resilience against challenges such as climate change, inequality, and the rapid urban growth expected to see 68% of the global population residing in urban areas by 2050.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay lauded the efforts of these cities, highlighting their role in harnessing creativity for urban resilience and development.
The new inductees, including Iloilo City, have received an invitation to the upcoming Creative Cities Network conference in Braga, Portugal. The event is themed “Bringing youth to the table for the next decade.”