MANILA, 15 July 2020 - For the ninth episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” with the topic on “Culinary Heritage,” House Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda, together with culinary experts and culinary heritage advocates, will discuss the importance of preserving local food and culinary heritage through sustainable diet.

The episode will air on Thursday, 16 July 2020, 10 AM, via Facebook Live at facebook.com/conglorenlegarda and facebook.com/CCCPhl/.

Joining Legarda are Chef Jam Melchor, founder of the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement; Ms. Louella Eslao-Alix, culinary heritage author; Ms. Luth Camiña from Camiña Balay nga Bato in Iloilo; Datu Shariff Pendatun III, chef and author of “On The Cuisine of Muslim Mindanao"; Ms. Amy Besa, restaurateur and author; and Mr. Arvin Villalon, National Cultural Mapping Facilitator from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

In previous episodes, the online series tackled topics on food gardening, saving seeds, permaculture, good nutrition and diet, and sustainable urban mobility in order to teach citizens to be self-sustainable and self-sufficient. 

This upcoming episode will underscore how the preservation of local food and culinary heritage promotes agrobiodiversity, a key adaptation strategy in mitigating the impact of climate change on food security. It aims to help map and revitalize the country’s local food and culinary heritage.

As an online discussion to promote health, environmental consciousness, and climate-adaptive practices, Stories for a Better Normal aims to change the mindset of individuals, families, and communities by demonstrating ways in which a ‘better normal’ can be realized within our communities.
    
This online discussion is organized in partnership between the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda and the Climate Change Commission, with support from the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines and Mother Earth Foundation.