ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Food devider International Manila Food Festival 2025 brings global spotlight to Filipino cuisine

International Manila Food Festival 2025 brings global spotlight to Filipino cuisine

Four-day event at Newport World Resorts gathers Michelin-awarded chefs, diaspora tastemakers, and culinary thought leaders to reimagine Filipino food on the world stage

By MBrand
Published Aug 1, 2025 02:00 pm
The International Manila Food Festival (IMFF), a landmark event celebrating the rich diversity and global evolution of Filipino cuisine, is set to unfold from August 7 to 10, 2025, at Newport World Resorts. Backed by a powerhouse roster of chefs from across the world, IMFF blends food culture, gastrodiplomacy, and visionary collaboration.
With programming that spans high-concept tasting menus, buffet takeovers, and an industry-shaping culinary congress, the festival positions Manila not just as a dining destination but as a rising culinary capital.
"This is our collective moment," said Nicole Ponseca, co-founder of Motherland Productions and author of I Am a Filipino. "The Filipino diaspora is hungry to collaborate and ready to lead. IMFF isn’t just about showcasing talent—it’s about unlocking opportunity, building legacy, and reminding the world that Filipino food is here to stay."
A showcase of diaspora talent and culinary innovation
The four-day celebration kicks off on August 7 with Tita Baby: San Diego x Seattle x Manila, a bold, all-Filipina collaboration at Casa Buenas, Newport World Resorts. Tara Monsod (Animae, San Diego) and Melissa Miranda (Musang, Seattle), both James Beard-nominated chefs, headline the event with a five-course dinner featuring fearless flavors and West Coast heritage. The evening begins at 5 p.m. with cocktails, followed by dinner from 6 to 10 p.m.
Price: P10,000/head, inclusive of San Miguel Premium beers and wine pairings. Early bird and group discounts apply.
On August 8 and 9, the action moves to the Kusina Sea Kitchens Buffet at Hilton Manila for FLVRS 1 (Featuring Leaders, Visionaries, Rising Stars). This buffet dinner takeover brings together Ross Magnaye (Serai, Melbourne), Monique Feybesse (Tarts de Feybesse, San Francisco), Aaron Isip (Kasa Palma, Manila), and Filippo Turrini (Roots, Siargao). Representing four continents in one kitchen, the chefs offer a modern interpretation of Filipino flavors.
Time: 5:30 to 10 p.m.
Price: P6,000/head, with unlimited San Miguel beer, wine, and other beverages.

Summit on the future of Filipino food
Saturday, August 9, marks the World Filipino Food Congress, a TED-style summit by invitation. Held at a secret venue within Newport World Resorts, the day-long forum gathers top chefs, cultural leaders, culinary schools, and innovators. Panels include:
Filipino Cuisine: Traditional and Modern Interpretation by Le Cordon Bleu Ateneo
The Long Table: Reimagining Sustainability in Filipino Foodways by CCA Manila
Foundations and Futures by Enderun Colleges
Trend forecasts by Clara Ole and TasteSetters
A conversation on Filipino spirits by Liquido Maestro
The summit runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open by application only.
In the evening, the spotlight shifts to Hotel Okura Manila’s Yawaragi, where Lordfer Lalicon (Kaya, Orlando) and Danny Cancino (Mineral, Toronto) collaborate for Rising Sons: Orlando x Toronto in Manila. Lalicon, whose restaurant Kaya holds the world’s only Michelin Green Star for Filipino cuisine, and Cancino, known for dishes like truffle pancit canton, craft a five-course fine dining experience set against marble and gold.
Time: 6 to 10 p.m.
Price: P10,000/head, including drinks. Black tie optional.
A grand finale of taste and heritage
The festival closes on August 10 with LASA x LAHI: A Grand Tasting of the Filipino Diaspora at the Marriott Grand Ballroom. Dozens of chefs will create tasting stations and immersive food booths, reimagining regional and diasporic Filipino food with global flair.
Time: 5 to 10 p.m.
Price: P8,000/head, inclusive of beer, Filipino liquors, and wine.
“This event isn’t just about food—it’s about building the infrastructure, visibility, and momentum to position the Philippines as a global culinary capital,” said Anton Diaz, IMFF co-founder and founder of Our Awesome Planet. “With the country’s projected economic rise and Michelin Guide’s expected arrival, the timing is both symbolic and strategic.”
Tickets for all events are available at www.manilafoodfestival.com. Early reservations are encouraged due to limited seating and exclusive access.
For media inquiries, contact [email protected] or reach out to +63 917 568 3627.
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.