Maggi Philippines, the trusted kitchen partner of Filipino home cooks, together with the Nestlé Wellness Campus and in partnership with the Department of Education, held the Maggi Sarap Sustansya Cook-Off 2026 at the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) Manila, Taguig City.

Bringing together public school students in Grades 7 to 10 from across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, Maggi Sarap Sustansya Cook-Off is a celebration of creativity, nutrition, and the goodness of homemade meals. This program is part of the broader Nestlé Wellness Campus initiative, which has been running for 13 years to promote health and nutrition education among Filipino youth in over 26,000 public schools nationwide.

With only a P500 budget and using the vegetables harvested from their school’s Gulayan sa Paaralan supported by Maggi, and from their own home gardens, each team of three students was tasked to create a dish that was both nutritious and delicious for the division-level competition.

To further strengthen their skills, the selected students learned from the Maggi Sarap Sustansya Kusinaskwela videos, gaining practical tips on meal planning, smart palengke shopping, and efficient kitchen techniques.

At the grand finals, finalists were challenged to prepare a complete menu, consisting of protein, vegetables, carbohydrates, dessert, and beverage, for a family of four within 90 minutes to cook and a budget of P1,000. The challenge emphasized the importance of balanced meals guided by the Go, Grow, Glow food groups and the Pinggang Pinoy recommendations of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI).

Leading food influencers and chefs, including Juan Miguel Fernandez (Juan Big Bite), Juri Imao (JUJUMAO), and Cath Chen, served as Culinary Mentors to the students, sharing professional cooking techniques, food safety practices, and creative ways to elevate their simple ingredients. Meanwhile, renowned chefs Chef Tatung, Chef Miggy Moreno, and Chef Jackie Ang Po served as judges for the cook-off. Together, their guidance and feedback helped build the students’ confidence in the kitchen and inspired them to transform affordable ingredients into dishes their families would enjoy.

Emerging as the National Grand Champion was Concepcion National High School, consisting of Grade 9-10 students Princess Sherry Fay De Los Santos, Alfamie Figura, and Beverly Jane Vertidazo and coached by teacher Grechie Cortel from SDO Southern Leyte, Eastern Visayas Region, impressing the judges with their winning dishes, Blueternate Coconut Cooler, Tomato Tsoko Crunch Tartlet, Lankaube Nutri Rice, Cheesy Triple Green Lumpia Rolls, and Crispy Tilapia Fillet, which all stood out for their creativity, nutritional value, and delicious flavors.

Following as runner-up winners were Malinao School for Philippine Craftsmen, from SDO Aklan, Western Visayas Region, and Donsol National Comprehensive High School from SDO Sorsogon Province, Bicol Region, bagging 2nd runner-up and 1st runner-up, respectively.

“We were able to gain a lot of cooking techniques in our journey, such as finding out new methods in making our meals more nutritious. This opportunity also allowed us to experiment and learn how to better balance out flavors, prioritizing both taste, in which Maggi enabled our dishes to be more delicious, while still remaining healthy,” said Grechie Cortel of the winning team, highlighting how the Maggi Sarap Sustansya Cook-Off has not only helped equip students with essential skills but also encouraged healthier eating habits, and strengthened their appreciation for nutritious meals.

“At Maggi, we firmly believe that every Filipino deserves access to food that is not only delicious and nutritious but also affordable. These three fundamental elements are crucial for making mealtimes more enjoyable and wholesome for all,” said Christopher Nazareno, Head of Brand Marketing - Culinary Solutions at Nestlé Philippines.

Additionally, Maggi recognized select schools as People’s Choice National Winners, based on votes from the team’s entries uploaded on the official Maggi YouTube page.

Rising as the National Champion of this category is Bariw National High School of SDO Albay, Bicol Region, followed by Juan F. Triviño Memorial High School of SDO Camarines Sur, Bicol Region and Camarin High School of SDO Caloocan, National Capital Region, who won the 1st- and 2nd runners-up positions, respectively.

More than a culinary contest, the Maggi Sarap Sustansya Cook-Off is a platform for young Filipinos to develop lifelong skills and a deeper appreciation for nutritious, home-cooked meals. By encouraging collaboration among students, teachers, parents, and mentors, Maggi continues to champion a future where healthy and affordable cooking becomes a daily habit in Filipino homes.