The 1st ever National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc. “Natfed” Hog Festival was held last March 1-5, 2024. The festival started with a Guinness World record attempt for the Most Number of Pork Dishes on Display followed by 2 days of Panindang Pinoy booth display, a celebratory degustation dinner on the 4th day and a backyard congress on the final day.
Our objectives at that time were to create awareness and promote fresh local Pinoy pork, increase per capita pork consumption, farm to fork linkage of farmers to institutional markets, promote Philippines particularly Quezon City as a food tourism destination and help our backyard farmers repopulate safely.
In the end, we were able to get a new Guinness World Record for the Philippines with the Most Number of Pork Dishes on Display at 313 dishes of different regional and country influences. We also successfully linked some of our farmers to supply directly to chefs and restaurants. The demand and consumption of pork increased noticeably as well because of the upward movement of farm gate prices. QC was given much media coverage locally and internationally as a result of this new world record and was promoted as one of the food destination places. Finally, we educated about 200 backyard farmers on bio-security practices. With this initial success of the Hog Festival, Natfed is planning to embark on a yearly Hog Festival celebration.
The growth of the local swine industry was again sidetracked with the reoccurrence of ASF in several pig producing regions causing a temporary pork shortage and a subsequent pork retail price increase. DA has to implement a MSRP on pork retail prices to make fresh pork more affordable to consumers and to arrest the profiteering by some players of the supply chain. In the end, pork importation for 2024 has increased substantially to almost 800 million kilograms. While imported pork is given preferential tariff cuts to 15% MAV and 25% outside MAV, local swine farmers are not given much incentive to re start their operations. Real food security can only be accomplished when we produce our food locally so we must continue to devise programs to encourage more local production and working towards the country’s food self sufficiency goals.
With this in mind, it is Natfed’s objective for Hog Festival 2025 to promote fresh local pork as a safer and more nutritious protein source as against the cheaper but less reliable imported pork. It is also our goal to help stimulate and increase pork consumption by reminding Filipinos of their passion for eating pork being consistently labeled as a pork loving nation. This is why it is equally important to make pork more affordable to the consumers by encouraging pig farmers to come back and produce more. The theme of the event will be “Sarap ng Pinoy Pork..mula nguso hanggang buntot!”
Natfed Hog Festival 2025
Natfed will hold a one day Hog Festival on May 31, 2025 with a cook-off exhibition between some invited queens vs some renowned chefs. Following the theme, different parts of the pigs will be used for this cooking demo. This will be held in Gateway 2 mall and will be open to all interested viewers. A respectable panel of judges shall be invited to declare the final winners.
A Pork Degustation Feast will follow after with invited culinary school students, restaurant owners and famous chefs show casing their signature pork dishes while using the different parts of the pig from snout to tail. This will highlight the fact that pig as a very good source of food protein as all its parts can be prepared into a good and delicious pork dish with almost zero wastage. With the support of DOT, we are also paving the way for the Philippines to be part of the Michelin Guide showcasing the best Filipino Regional Pork dishes.
Our media friends, industry partners, fellow farmers, LGU and DA friends and even the consuming public are all invited to participate and help us promote fresh Pinoy pork and rekindle our appetites for pork dishes. With this activity, we hope to generate awareness and encourage our Filipino consumers and institutions to buy local, support local and love local by patronizing fresh local Pinoy Pork!
Cooking Showdown
The NatFed Hog Festival 2025 is a grand celebration of Filipino culinary heritage, where every part of the pig—from snout to tail—is transformed into extraordinary dishes that reflect tradition, creativity, and sustainability. This festival honors the versatility of pork, showcasing the heart of Filipino cuisine and placing it on the global stage.
A key highlight is the Cooking Showdown: “The Chef vs The Queens”, where Chef Tatung, Chef Massi, and Chef Miggy will face off against a star-studded team of Queens of the Kitchen: Adobo Queen Nancy Lumen, Bb. Pilipinas beauties Cristal Jean and Trisha, and Viral Queen Sasa Girl. They’ll create innovative dishes using every part of the pig, showcasing pork’s incredible versatility and Filipino culinary traditions.
With the theme “Sarap ng Pinoy Pork… Mula Nguso Hanggang Buntot,” the festival celebrates maximizing every part of the pig, turning what others see as scraps into mouthwatering dishes. It’s a celebration of Filipino resourcefulness, sustainability, and flavor.
Join us on May 31, 2025, for a culinary adventure from nguso hanggang buntot. With chefs and queens at the helm, this event promises an unforgettable feast, showcasing the best of Filipino cuisine and the endless possibilities of Pinoy Pork.
Pinoy Pork Degustation
The Pinoy Pork Degustation Feast is more than just a meal—it’s a celebration of Filipino culinary heritage and an exploration of the endless possibilities of pork. This grand tasting experience brings together culinary students, restaurant owners, top chefs, and food lovers, all united by a shared passion for Filipino food and sustainability.
At the heart of this event is the showcase of signature pork dishes prepared using every part of the pig—from the snout to the tail. It’s a tribute to the ingenuity of Filipino chefs who have long known how to turn humble ingredients into extraordinary dishes. From tender cuts to flavorful offal, each dish tells a story of how we, as a nation, have mastered the art of maximizing every part of the pig.
In this feast, sustainability takes center stage. The concept of zero-waste cooking is a guiding principle, underscoring how pork, a high-protein food, can be used in innovative ways to create rich, flavorful meals without any waste. This focus on sustainability highlights the importance of responsible sourcing and the mindful use of resources, making it not only a celebration of taste but also a call for more sustainable practices in the food industry.
The event is not just a culinary experience—it’s an opportunity to put the Philippines on the global food map. The Pinoy Pork Degustation Feast stands as a testament to the versatility of pork, a versatile and delicious meat that has been at the heart of Filipino cuisine for centuries. From the bustling streets of Manila to the tranquil provinces, Filipino chefs have been crafting mouth watering pork dishes that celebrate the rich, diverse flavors of the country.
As the world increasingly turns its focus to sustainability and sustainability in the culinary world, this event is the perfect platform to showcase the true potential of Filipino pork cuisine. By celebrating pork’s endless possibilities, we not only honor our culinary roots but also highlight the innovation and creativity of Filipino chefs who are shaping the future of food. The Pinoy Pork Degustation Feast is more than just a meal; it’s an invitation to taste the future of Filipino food and celebrate our shared love for pork.
Join us for a taste of tradition, sustainability, and culinary excellence—together, let’s put Filipino pork on the global food map!