Teeming with world-class homegrown dishes, the dynamic City of Iloilo is definitely a center for gastronomic delights, something the whole country can be proud of.
With that in mind, the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA) is launching Timplada: The Art of Ilonggo Cuisine, a three-part event composed of an on-site and virtual art exhibition, a series of educational livestreams, and an Iloilo City food map.
“Ilonggos are innate food lovers with a strong sense of practicality and resourcefulness. Even with the abundance of produce in the region, the origin of their well-known regional dishes are traced to the food sources in their backyards,” said Janine Cabato, Curator of Timplada. “This availability of ingredients and mild flavors of Ilonggo cuisine make it an easy choice for a Filipino meal. Timplada revolves on these nostalgic food experiences of familiar tastes and familial heirloom recipes.”
Spearheaded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Timplada project is among the efforts being made by the city of Iloilo to be recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a Creative City for Gastronomy.
ART EXHIBITION
The art exhibition will showcase 10 unique artworks from 10 different artists who got their inspirations from 10 classic Ilonggo dishes.
Guests will admire Alex Ordoyo, Jecko Magallon, and Kristoffer Brasileño’s masterpieces based on popular viands of what Ilonggo food is known for such as batchoy, pancit molo, and chicken inasal respectively.
Creative power couple Noel Epalan Jr. and Marge Chavez take on a more traditional approach to capture food preparation in the kitchen through still life ingredients of KBL (kadyos, baboy, langka) and Laswa, a mixed vegetable soup.
In a more stylized technique, Margaux Blas featured ingredients of the seasonal dish of bamboo shoots locally called Tambo on her artwork.
Marrz Capanang’s work shows a sentimental rendering of another Iloilo pride, the Binatwanan, a soup flavored with batwan, a green sour fruit native to the region.
Another must-see are Eric Barbosa Jr and Jeanroll Ejar’s interpretations on traditional Iloilo kakanin dishes namely Baye-Baye and Ibus.
Timplada ni Inday is an interesting soft sculpture that reads like a book spotlighting on some Hiligaynon terms for taste and names of local fish. A brainchild by Inday Dolls Rosa Zerrudo, the hand-embroidered work was done in collaboration with women artists and hablon weavers behind bars or Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) in Iloilo City.
The art exhibit will be open to the public starting October 1, at the Hulot Gallery in ILOMOCA museum, Casa de Emperador, Iloilo Business Park.
MERIENDA TALKS (Educational Livestreams)
To reach more audiences nationwide and worldwide, Timplada is launching Merienda Talks, an educational livestream series with topics that will revolve around the beauty of Ilonggo arts and Ilonggo culinary arts.
The livestreams will be premiered on ILOMOCA’s Facebook page every 3PM on Saturdays, until December.
On November 13, award-winning Filipino writer Jason Tabinas will take audiences into a riveting poem crawl inspired by food in the Manamit: Food in Filipino Poetry episode. The following week, Asia Rice Foundation and Tahanan Books will collaborate to host The Adventures of Gabby Ghas episode, which is an animated story for children about a tiny grain of palay who wants to know his place in the world.
Some more episodes that audiences can look forward to is Pinspired, where Dumaguete artist Leah will teach how to draw food illustrations using traditional and graphic design methods; Commando Cooking, a demo cooking on local dish Tinuom; making your Noche Buena Platter for Christmas, by Chefs Darwin Infante and Sharmaine Honey Grace Gutierrez, and more.
For updates on the Merienda Talks schedules, you can follow the official Facebook page of ILOMOCA at facebook.com/ILOMOCA.
ILOILO CITY FOOD MAP
Timplada will be releasing an official Iloilo City Food Map, to mark the significant and signature dishes of Iloilo City. It will be in a brochure format, and will highlight Iloilo City’s landmarks and restaurants.
To be illustrated by Jimhuel of Dampi Art, the map will be an all-in-one informational guide on Iloilo City’s brief history, festivals, landmarks, must-eats, fun facts, and common Hiligaynon expressions.
Together with the NCCA, Timplada is made possible through ILOMOCA’s partnership with the Megaworld Foundation, Department of Tourism, and the local government of Iloilo.
For more information, you can visit ILOMOCA’s social media pages at facebook.com/ILOMOCA and instagram.com/itsilomoca. You can also send them an email at iloilomuseumofcontemporaryart@gmail.com. ILOMOCA is located at Casa de Emperador, Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
