A Walang Gutom Program (WGP) household beneficiary from Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) took home the championship title in the first-ever Walang Gutom Kusinero Cook-Off Challenge of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), besting nine other regional finalists.
The winning team was awarded by no less than First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos, assisted by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
In his speech at the national culinary challenge held in the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City on Friday (July 25), Secretary Gatchalian highlighted President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s deep support for the WGP, noting that the President’s vision has always been a hunger-free Philippines.
“Alam ninyo, malapit sa puso ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ang programang ito. Kagaya ng sinasabi niya sa amin, pangarap ng ating Pangulo na wala dapat nagugutom na Pilipino,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
According to the DSWD chief, the WGP is not just about providing food credits to families but was also built around sustainable and community-based solutions to fight involuntary hunger.
“Layunin nitong tugunan ang involuntary hunger sa pamamagitan ng mga solusyong nakaugat mismo sa komunidad,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
One of those solutions, as pointed out by the DSWD secretary, is the Kusinero Cook-Off Challenge, which highlights the cooking skills, nutrition knowledge, and discipline of the beneficiaries in preparing healthy, delicious, and affordable meals for their families.
“Isa na rito ang ating Kusinero Cook-Off Challenge — kung saan hinuhubog natin hindi lang ang galing sa pagluluto, kundi ang kaalaman at disiplina sa paghahanda ng abot-kaya pero masustansya at masarap na pagkain para sa ating mga pamilya,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
With a perfect score of 100 percent, Kusinera Elenita Montaño and Assistant Kusinera Jovelyn Montaño from Zamboanga Peninsula secured the top prize of Php50,000 from the DSWD and a livelihood assistance — a food cart from Playtime Cares.
Representatives of Region 5 (Bicol Region) came in second with Php30,000 prize while Region 6 (Western Visayas) representatives landed third with a Php20,000 cash prize.
To the delight of the crowd, Secretary Gatchalian announced that President Marcos Jr. gave a surprise gift of Php100,000 each to all the 10 finalists in recognition of their efforts and passion in promoting food security.
The 10 finalists hailed from Regions 2 (Cagayan Valley), 5 (Bicol), 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), 8 (Eastern Visayas), 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 10 (Northern Mindanao), Region 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN), CARAGA, and National Capital Region (NCR).
All of them are winners having hurdled the provincial and regional levels before competing at the national level.
Each participant prepared meals based on the principles of Pinggang Pinoy—ensuring their dishes were nutritious, delicious, and affordable, using ingredients redeemed through the WGP’s accredited stores.
The competition was judged using two criteria: “Masarap, Masustansya, at Abot-Kaya” or flavor, nutrition balance, and affordability for 50 percent and the remaining 50 percent for innovation or cooking techniques, presentation, and creative use of ingredients.
Describing their winning meal—“Ginataang KangCorn PriBano”—Kusinera Jovelyn said they only used organic ingredients.
“Sobrang saya, hindi namin ine-expect na kami yung mananalo pero ginawa namin yung best namin. Yung niluto namin ay walang halong monosodium glutamate (MSG) yun kundi sugar lang. Organic talaga yung niluto namin,” Jovelyn said.
A teary-eyed Jovelyn added: “Sobrang salamat po sa DSWD kasi isa kami sa benepisyaryo na nakatanggap ng tulong mula sa ating Pangulo. Sobrang malaking tulong po talaga sa amin.”
The Walang Gutom Kusinero Cook-Off Challenge forms part of the DSWD’s campaign to fight involuntary hunger and promote food and nutrition security across the country. (YADP)