Hog Festival 2026 launched to champion Filipino pork and local farmers

　　The National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. (NFHFI) officially launched this year’s Hog Festival through a press conference and media launch held Wednesday, June 4, at the QC Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibitions Center in Quezon City Hall. 

　　Now on its third year, Hog Festival 2026 is positioned as a national celebration of Filipino pork heritage, culinary creativity, agriculture and community spirit, bringing together farmers, chefs, restaurateurs, culinary students, industry leaders and food lovers in one movement rooted in Filipino pride and agricultural solidarity. 

　　NFHFI Chairman Chester Warren Tan said the festival was created not only as a culinary showcase, but also as a call to support hog raisers and protect local agriculture. 

　　“The festival champions the belief that Filipino pork deserves to be celebrated, protected, and prioritized—not only because of its quality and flavor, but because it represents the hard work, resilience and future of Filipino agriculture,” Tan said. 

　　Meanwhile, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte expressed the city’s support for the initiative. 

　　“Our hog inventory from January to March this year has hit a 30-year low—the lowest since 1994. Quezon City is proud to stand with the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. to help the industry rise back up,” Belmonte Said. 

　　Among the highlights of Hog Festival 2026 is PORKlabanan: The Great Pinoy Pork Culinary Wars, the festival’s flagship culinary competition that will gather student teams from Far Eastern University, Lyceum of the Philippines-Manila, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde-Antipolo and Our Lady of Fatima University-Quezon City. Guided by mentor chefs, the competition will showcase Filipino-inspired pork dishes while promoting support for local hog farmers and farm-to-table collaboration. 

　　The festival will also feature The Great Pinoy Pork 8: Degustation with a Mission, a multi-course heritage dinner led by celebrated Filipino chefs. The dinner will highlight locally raised pork and Filipino produce, while also supporting the “Pork to Purpose” scholarship initiative for aspiring chefs, agriculture students and children of hog farmers. 

　　Through its programs, Hog Festival 2026 seeks to go beyond celebration. Organizers said the festival serves as a platform to raise awareness on the importance of buying local, protecting Filipino livelihoods, and strengthening food security. The Hog Festival 2026 is set to take place on June 12, 2026, at Gateway Mall 2 Quantum Skyview, Araneta City, beginning at 1 p.m. with PORKlabanan. The celebration will continue at 6 p.m. at The Grand Ballroom of Novotel Manila Araneta City for The Great Pinoy Pork 8.