Support ILOILO entries in Kraft Eden's "Keso de Gallo"

One Nation to Start the World’s Longest Christmas Celebration

December may be the start of Christmas for the rest of the world. But here in the Philippines, Christmas history is made–because the world’s favorite season of the year starts a hundred days early.

As early as September 4, Eden Cheese–the country’s well-loved cheese brand spearheads the world’s longest Christmas celebration with Eden’s Sarap ng Pasko: 100 Days of Christmas. Previously igniting the joy and faith of Filipinos nationwide in last year’s Keso de Gallo, Eden is back to once again bring the warmest and tastiest Yuletide tidings to everyone, reminding Filipino of hope and unity.

100 Days. 100 Towns. 100 Unique Dishes

“It is very evident that Filipinos have an innate sense of early excitement for Christmastime whatever situation they may be in,” Kraft Foods Philippines’ Category Marketing Manager Alex Dan Tacderas explains. “That is why we wanted to embody this excitement and bring the entire nation together for Christmas as early as September 4,” he adds.

Christmas may now have officially started in the Philippines. But this latest Yuletide undertaking by Eden in partnership with ABS-CBN Network kicked off as early as July when participating towns were asked for a cook off. “Each dish was made with indigenous ingredients native to their very own town–making every dish original and unique,” Tacderas says.

Guimbal, Iloilo's Pininyahang manok with cheese

Now with 100 towns competing to have the country’s number one dish, Eden’s 100 Sarap ng Pasko: 100 Days of Christmas will bring out even more the culinary creativity in every participating town nationwide. “We believe in the natural talent and healthy competitiveness of Filipinos in making nutritious, delicious and affordable meals especially during this Christmas season,” Tacderas says. “That is why we leave the rest of the nation to vote for and decide who deserves to be the town that will be most recognized,”

Iloilo City's Creamy Macaroni Soup with Eden Cheese

Last year, Kraft Eden gave the celebration of Misa de Gallo a cheesy twist by feeding churchgoers for 9 mornings in 9 different cities from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, in 9 different churches with 9 carefully selected Filipino recipes. “This year, we aimed to invite a hundred because during this season of merrymaking– the more really is merrier,” Tacderas shares.

1 Nation. 1 Festive Season. 1 Grand Yuletide Feast.

With a natural love and passion for food, this pioneering celebration isn’t merely a competition. Moreover, it brings the entire nation together in time to share the tastiest of Yuletide tidings. “Christmastime is a time wherein sharing is found most prominent especially among families,” Senior Brand Manager Anna Sapitan discusses. “Through this, we wanted to unite the country together as one big family with a common love for Christmas feasting,”

As a country that is known to be naturally warm and generous, Kraft Eden also aims to share Christmas joy and faith to every Filipino across the nation. “We selected towns precisely because we wanted to reach out from the most popular ones up to the less recognized ones–in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” Sapitan says.

Underscoring an optimistic, festive and delightful Christmas for everyone in the country, this year, Sarap ng Pasko: 100 Days of Christmas, strengthens the Yuletide spirit alive for each Filipino across the world.

1 Proud Country to Inspire the Whole World

“Apart from bringing the entire nation together during this celebration, we believe that this will also inspire the rest of the world on how passionate we Filipinos are when it comes to food,” Sapitan claims.

Being the world’s first longest Christmas celebration, this event pushes food tourism to a whole new level. “The Filipinos’ natural knack at creating scrumptious, healthy and budget-friendly meals makes, I believe makes us world-class,” Sapitan shares. With the country’s unique brand of culinary creativity, the world will surely want to get a taste of what our country has to offer.
“Having 100 towns nationwide create 100 unique cheese-based dishes will entice our friends from abroad to come and experience the country for themselves,” Tacderas says.

With the Spirit of Christmas ignited as early as September 4 and kept alive until the first Sunday of January 2011, the country is sure to make a mark in Christmas history the world-around. Moreover, the Yuletide warmth and joy spread by the country’s well-loved cheese among Filipino families nationwide will empower and unite the country even more.

“Christmas really is the best time to be closer to our loved ones and to extend our love and faith to one another,” Tacderas explains. “And to have this culminating event is a way for all of us to
end the year with great joy and start the next with utmost optimism,”

Vote for your town and help them realize their simple community wish by winning 2M in support fund and 100,000 for yourself. Send an Eden carton and be counted. Visit www.sarapngpasko.com for the mechanics or call 72-PASKO for more details.

About Kraft Foods
The combination of Kraft Foods (www.kraftfoodscompany.com) and Cadbury creates a global powerhouse in snacks, confectionery and quick meals. With annual revenues of approximately $50 billion, the combined company is the world’s second largest food company, making delicious products for billions of consumers in more than 160 countries. The combined company's portfolio includes 11 iconic brands with revenues exceeding $1 billion – Oreo, Nabisco and LU biscuits; Milka and Cadbury chocolates; Trident gums; Jacobs and Maxwell House coffees; Philadelphia cream cheeses; Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; and Oscar Mayer meats. Another 70+ brands generate annual revenues of more than $100 million. Kraft Foods (www.kraftfoodscompany.com; NYSE: KFT) is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index.

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Article courtesy of www.byahilo.com and photos from www.sarapngpasko.com

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