The Kultura Crawl Media and Content Creators Day kicked off Tuesday, highlighting Filipino craftsmanship, flavors, and creativity as part of a five-day celebration dedicated to local culture.
Running from 2 to 6 July, the Kultura Crawl features a curated showcase of local delicacies, traditional clothing, handcrafted souvenirs, and regional drinks through interactive booths and displays. The event aims to promote homegrown products and celebrate Filipino identity.
Visitors receive a “Crawl Hunt Card” upon registration, transforming their experience into an interactive journey filled with mini-challenges and activities.
Filipino-American DJ and actor KC Montero hosted the event and introduced participants to featured local brands.
“In the Kultura Crawl, you will experience Filipino creation, taste, and food. Anything Filipino,” Montero said.
One of the brands featured at the event is Gourmet Farms, known for its unique selection of food offerings. Among the crowd favorites are their signature pesto chips — crispy basil leaves turned into tasty snacks — and their lettuce chips, available in five flavors: original, chili barbecue, sweet corn, ranch cheddar, and sour cream and onion. The brand also offers gourmet tuyo and a range of coffee blends sourced from various regions across the Philippines.
Jam Evaristo-Asuncion, marketing manager of Gourmet Farms, told DAILY TRIBUNE they are proud to create snacks that serve as a great alternative to potato chips while remaining tasty and enjoyable for both adults and children.
“Since Gourmet Farms is known to use all farm-fresh ingredients and we started with our core product, which is coffee, we are now venturing into lettuce chips. Lettuce is, I may say, our second core product on the farm. From that, we were able to create something snackable and healthy — that’s why we made this. That’s the inspiration. We were able to create a healthy snack, even for kids,” she said.
She added that new products are in development but remain a secret for now. She described the upcoming item as “unexpected” from a brand sourced directly from farm goods.
A liquor brand offering a unique experience tailored to Filipino tastes was also showcased at the event.
Sula Spirits, founded in September 2023, was co-created by Mark Rivera, who is based in Italy. Rivera envisioned Sula as a way to empower and promote the Philippines, calling it his “love letter” to the country since the ingredients are locally sourced.
Ayessa Bualong, marketing officer of Sula, told the DAILY TRIBUNE that Rivera grew tired of the stereotypical perceptions of Filipino culture in Italy.
“When they say Filipino, they always think of ‘my maid is Filipino, my driver is Filipino,’ so he wanted to empower Filipinos, so he created Sula,” she said.
Sula currently offers three flavors: coconut, chocolate, and coffee. Its base is sugarcane liquor made in Negros, keeping the product all-natural. Bualong also expressed hope that the brand will introduce more flavors in the future.
Que Rica Pili Nuts, a women-led brand founded in 2019 by Davao-based chef Rica Buenaflor, offers hand-harvested, small-batch pili nuts sourced from Bicol.
Eva Moreno, part of Que Rica’s production team, told the DAILY TRIBUNE that the brand not only sells high-quality, flavorful pili nuts but also creates job opportunities for women in communities with limited income sources.
“Marami siyang [Chef Rica] tinutulungan na community. They are run by women. Yun yung mga nasa Bicol na since walang masyadong pinagkakakitaan. So naisip niya na why not tulungan yung mga Bicolano since yung puso niya mas malapit na Bicolano,” Moreno said.
A highlight of the event was the promotion of ube, one of the country’s favorite flavors. Visitors enjoyed a variety of ube-infused products, including snacks, pastries, chocolates, and even liquor.
Travel and lifestyle content creator Jam Umali told DAILY TRIBUNE about her experience on the first day of the Kultura Crawl and her goal to use her platform to promote local products that match the quality of exported goods.
“I am highlighting products here talaga that are locally made. I want others to know that kayang-kaya pala nating i-produce yung mga ganito sa Philippines. Kasi naiisip ko na bakit ka kukuha sa exported. Kasi may products tayo from Davao, Pampanga, Laguna, Cavite. Kailangan lang talaga nila ng a lot exposure,” she said.
Umali said she always enjoys events like this because she loves using her platform to share her ideas and simply enjoys speaking in front of the camera.
She added that the event aligns perfectly with her content, which focuses on promoting Filipino culture and local travel destinations.
“With Kultura, it is one of the ways of exposure na deserve ng mga products kasi we have so much to offer.”