The savory aroma of sizzling pork dishes filled the air in Cubao, Quezon City on Saturday as hog farmers from across the country gathered for Hog Festival 2025 — a celebration that honored the passion, perseverance, and pride driving the Philippine swine industry.

Hosted by the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc., the festival brought together nearly 500 stakeholders in a colorful showcase of Filipino culinary creativity and agricultural resilience.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the guest of honor, lauded the federation members for their vital role in sustaining rural livelihoods and ensuring food on Filipino tables despite ongoing challenges such as the African swine fever (ASF), soaring feed prices, and unstable market conditions.

The festival also underscored the national government’s strengthened support for the hog sector. Laurel reiterated President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for faster action in rolling out an ASF vaccine — an urgent step to help farmers recover and rebuild the country’s pork supply chain.

“You’ve already made history once — breaking a Guinness World Record with 313 pork dishes,” the agriculture chief said, referring to the federation’s March 2024 feat. “Today, you’re making history again, proving that every part of the pig tells a story — one of sustainability, culture and heart.”

With the theme “Sarap ng Pinoy Pork, Mula Nguso Hanggang Buntot,” the festival was a lively tribute to Filipino culinary heritage and agricultural pride. A cooking competition brought together students, chefs, and restaurateurs who reimagined classics like paksiw na lechon, sinigang na pata, dinuguan and sisig nguso — dishes that showcased the full range of flavors and creativity in Filipino pork cuisine.

Laurel also highlighted the Department of Agriculture’s continued support for the swine sector through key initiatives such as INSPIRE (Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion), enhanced biosecurity measures, and the development of locally sourced feeds.

“We are not just rebuilding — we’re transforming the industry,” he said. “The hog sector is a cornerstone of food security. Through strong partnerships, we can uplift both backyard and commercial hog raisers.”

Calling Filipino hog farmers resilient and forward-looking, Laurel added, “You rise, you adapt, and you elevate. This is what Filipino agriculture looks like — resilient, flavorful, and full of promise.”