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Thursday, March 28, 2024

DoT chief postpones Madrid Fusion

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Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat announced on Wednesday that the fourth edition of Madrid Fusión Manila will not push through this year but assured it will take place in 2019.

“Why will it not push through? There’s still a bidding, it hasn’t started yet,” she said in Filipino, adding that the process may possibly reach conclusion in July or August. “The Madrid Fusión was supposed to be in September, there’s not enough time.”

The Tourism Promotions Board in April said the gastronomy congress was scheduled on Sept. 25 to 29, but the Tourism chief said she would rather not rush the bidding process.

“I’d rather do it properly, do not rush things up. I’ve already talked to the organizers abroad, I said we lacked time,” she added. “As much as I love Madrid Fusión, and as much as it pains me [to let it go this year], it’s my baby, we have to do what is right, let’s not push hard for it.”

Romulo-Puyat said the organizers have already agreed to hold the fourth edition next year, but there will be changes in the format, including the inclusion of more farmers.

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“The fourth year was supposed to be this year, the fourth year will be next year,” she said.

At a press briefing in Manila, Romulo-Puyat vouched that the MFM had promoted local produce and bared she took offense at reports mudslinging Madrid Fusión for solely promoting the Spanish cuisine.

“It is a game changer, it actually put agriculture on the map, it gave importance to our farmers,” she said. “I took offense when people said that Madrid Fusión only supported the culture of Madrid, only supported foreigners and only supported foreign ingredients because in the Department of Agriculture, I had 15 Filipino chef volunteers every day, it’s a three-day event.”

The 1st edition of Madrid Fusión Manila in 2015, similar to the succeeding ones, sourced ingredients from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, representing the three-day events respectively. 

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