By Mariela Angella Oladive
This year’s Tumandok Festival marked its 20th anniversary from September 26 to 30 at SM City Iloilo, highlighting the vibrant culture and tourism potential of the province.
As part of Tourism Month, the five-day festival offered a dynamic showcase of Iloilo’s gastronomy, agri-tourism, and indigenous crafts, underscoring the province’s unique identity and commitment to sustainable practices.
The festival opened with “NAMIT!”—an inter-municipality cooking competition celebrating both traditional and contemporary Ilonggo dishes. The event showcased locally sourced ingredients and innovative cooking techniques that honored the region’s culinary heritage.
In addition to the culinary offerings, the festival emphasized sustainability with the “On-the-Spot Bayong Painting Contest” held as part of the culminating activities. This contest promoted the use of eco-friendly, handwoven shopping bags made from organic materials such as buri, pandan, and abaca. The initiative aligned with Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.’s ordinance banning single-use plastics and styrofoam, advocating for environmentally friendly alternatives.
Throughout the festival, the “Bugana” local products fair and the “AgriByahe” exhibition connected agripreneurs with tour operators. AgriByahe, in particular, highlighted Iloilo’s growing farm tourism industry, offering a platform for partnerships and promoting rural tourism as an alternative for urban dwellers seeking rest and recreation in the province’s scenic farm destinations.
One of the major highlights was the Indigenous Fiber Fashion Fair, a three-day fashion show featuring hand-loomed fabrics crafted by Iloilo’s weaving communities. Fashion icons and emerging designers took to the runway with collections blending tradition and modernity, further emphasizing the province’s creative legacy. Designers John Patrick Tajo, Jeraldine Nofre, and Jerico Labata debuted their collections on opening night, followed by renowned Ilonggo designers Jun-g Candelario and John Montinola.
The fashion event concluded with the “Lin-ay sang Iloilo” candidates’ showcase and sashing ceremony on September 29.
As the Tumandok Festival celebrated its 20th year, it continues to evolve, introducing innovative activities aligned with Iloilo’s goal of achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. From fostering economic growth to empowering micro-enterprises, the event has become a key driver of development, contributing to job creation and improving the quality of life for Ilonggos.
