A group of Filipino hog raisers will attempt a Guinness World Record for the most number of pork dishes on display and to be served afterwards.

Speaking at the launch of the Hog Festival 2024 in Quezon City on Thursday, National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc. (NatFed) vice president Rodolfo Ona Jr. said the event is part of the festival which runs from March 1 to 5 in Cubao and Marikina.

As of press time, NatFed said there will be 418 pork dishes to be featured during the festival.

Jayson Cainglet, executive director of the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura, said the event will showcase the country’s robust local hog industry.

“With the help of the QC government, yung tourism department ng QC, talagang pinapakita natin na buhay, vibrant ang ating local industry with the support ng mga establishments dito sa QC, yun pa lang malaking bagay na sa atin para makita na healthy at masaya ang industriya ng pagbababoy (the tourism department of QC, we will show that the local industry is alive and vibrant. With the support of the establishments in QC, that is already a big help of us to show that the hog industry is healthy and vibrant),” he said.

Aside from the usual pork dishes such as menudo, crispy pata and lechon, the festival will also highlight various signature pork dishes from Ilocos, Bicol, Pampanga, Marikina and other places.

Meanwhile, NatFed convenor Durian Tan said the event also aims to inspire second and third generations of hog farmers, as well as cooking enthusiasts to use local pork in their dishes.

“Because of the African swine fever, nasiraan ng loob ang industriya so we want everybody to live again, mag re-populate tayo ulit, kumain ng Filipino pork, at buhayin natin ang allied industry, the type na mga magsasaka ng mais, ng bigas para sa darak, mga mangingisda at lahat ng klase ng agrikultura (many were disheartened so we want everybody to live again, let us re-populate again, let us eat Filipino pork, let us support the allied industry, such as corn farmers, rice for the feeds, the fisherfolk and all types of agriculture),” Tan said.

The first three days of the festival will take place in Novotel Hotel and Gateway Mall both in Araneta City, Cubao, while the culminating event with a Backyard Congress will be held in Marikina Convention Center on March 5.

Meanwhile, NatFed vice chair Alfred Ng said they aim to promote the interests of the local agricultural sector by promoting food security, food safety and food sovereignty.

“With the hog festival, we also hope to boost our country’s tourism by highlighting our rich culinary tradition of serving pork dishes,” he added.

Through the festival and Guinness attempt, hog producers will also be able to link and network with institutional markets, such as restaurants and hotels, to help lessen their dependence on imported pork.

Ma. Teresa Tirona of the QC Tourism Department, meanwhile, expressed support for the event as they are pushing the city to become a culinary tourism destination.

“We support this initiative of the hog farmers not only because it will transpire in our city, but it is our duty to promote the local hog industry as this will benefit our local farmers. Linking hog producers with institutional markets like restaurants, supermarkets and hotels to lessen their dependence on imported pork will redound to the growth of our local economy as well,” she said. (PNA)