27/08/2026
KUSINERO DE MERKADO: WHERE HERITAGE MEETS THE HUSTLE!
On August 27, 2026, the TODO Media Network Corp. brought the heat to the Iloilo Central Market with Kusinero de Merkado โ Sabor. Kultura. Banwa., in cooperation with the Iloilo City Government, as part of the cityโs 89th Charter Day celebration and the weeklong Kape Ta! Iloilo festivities.
And the star of the pot? BATWAN!
For Ilonggos, batwan is more than just a sour fruit. Batwan (Garcinia binucao) is a distinctly Western Visayan souring ingredientโthe secret asim behind beloved Ilonggo dishes like KBL (Kadyos, Baboy, Langka) and kansi. Think of it as Iloiloโs answer to โWhat makes this taste so Ilonggo?โ
But Kusinero de Merkado is not your ordinary cooking contest.
It puts the spotlight on the market vendors and stall owners themselvesโthe people who know food not because they read about it, but because they have been cooking, selling, tasting, and passing it down for generations.
The mission? Discover the most authentic heritage flavors of Iloiloโnot just in the city, but throughout the province.
Because sometimes, the best culinary historians aren't sitting in fancy restaurants.
They're right there in the palengke, holding a ladle.
And this is only the beginning!
WATCH OUT! Kusinero de Merkado is coming to six more markets in Iloilo City, bringing more stories, more recipes, more competitionโand definitely more reasons to eat!
Then, on September 8, 2026, we take the Kusinero de Merkado adventure to Ivisan, Capiz, with TALABA as the featured flavor themeโfitting for Capiz, widely known for its rich seafood heritage and reputation as the Seafood Capital of the Philippines.
From BATWAN to TALABA, one thing is certain:
The Philippines is not just a country of flavors. We are a country of storiesโand every market has one to tell.
Kusinero de Merkado โ Sabor. Kultura. Banwa.
Because heritage tastes better when the community cooks it together.
Kita-kita tayo sa susunod na Kusinero de Merkado!
Manamit nga Luto. Buhi nga Kultura. Masanyog nga Banwa!
By: CML
