It was still dark when we got to the town of Guimbal but the Yuletide display brightened the whole plaza. The town is famous for having one of the most beautiful plazas and municipal halls in the region and one of the oldest churches in the country. A perfect backdrop, both literally and figuratively, for this momentous event; Guimbal being declared as the first-ever “Eden Town”.
Last September, Kraft Eden Cheese launched Eden: Sarap ng Pasko 100 Days of Christmas campaign in partnership with ABS-CBN. On its second year, a hundred towns and cities around the country took on the challenge of infusing Eden Cheese to their indigenous dishes. A nationwide vote determined the Top 9 towns and cities which will participate in the culminating activity known as Keso de Gallo.
During the event, scheduled on the first day of the traditional mass known as Misa de Gallo, churchgoers can have a taste of their town’s winning dish after the mass. The eventual winner – dubbed as Eden Town, will get a PhP 2 million worth of livelihood assistance and its landmarks will be featured in special limited edition boxes of Kraft Eden Cheese.
Excitement rushed in when I got the news that the town of Guimbal, Iloilo actually won the competition with more than 35,000 votes through boxes of Eden Cheese. My blog was designated (last September) to campaign for Guimbal, Iloilo’s entry pininyahang manok with cheese. But being an Iloilo-based food blog, I campaigned for all Iloilo entries in the said competition. Little did I expect that one of them would land in the Top 9 much more winning the top plum!
As soon as the misa de gallo ended, churchgoers flocked to the plaza to witness the program and awarding ceremony of Eden: Sarap ng Pasko 100 Days of Christmas competition. It started with a medley of Christmas songs from a local talent then Kraft Eden Senior Brand Manager Anna Sapitan took the stage and congratulated the people of Guimbal for a job well done.
Like the Bible parable which saw the feeding of the multitude, Ms. Sapitan said,”We don’t have loaves of bread or fishes - all we have are Eden Cheese packs. But each Eden pack is full of inspiration and stories ready to be told to inspire a nation that indeed it is possible to unite for a cause, just like you did here in Guimbal.” To which inspired Guimbalanons clapped and received which much pride.
Recogntion was also given to the school teacher who concocted the recipe that makes every Guimbalanons proud of. Mrs. Melanie C. Guevarra humbly shared what inspired her to give an old recipe a new twist by using Eden Cheese. After being informed that her dish made it to the regional level, she was hesitant to go – she’s afraid to take boat rides. “You can take my cash prize, just don’t let me ride the boats ....” she said in local dialect to the delight of the crowd
Then the crowd got excited as Category Manager of Kraft Foods Philippines, Alex Dan Tacderas chose, from around 35,000 boxes of Eden Cheese, a lucky winner who voted for Guimbal’s Pininyahang Manok with Cheese. Nimfa Gellangarin, a municipal employee got herself PhP 100,000 in cash. A very timely gift for her dad who will be celebrating his birthday 4 years shy of a century this December.
A jamming session with Aiza Seguerra perked up the crowd with her rendition of classics Ang Huling El Bimbo, Sana Ngayong Pasko and her very own hit – Pagdating ng Panahon to which the crowd shouted “More! More!”
The highlight of the program came next with the awarding of the Certificate of Recognition by Kraft Foods to the town of Guimbal for having the most number of entries in this nationwide contest. And living up to the true spirit of the season, Guimbal was given the distinction of being the first Eden Town and received PhP 2 million pesos worth of training and livelihood for its chosen community initiative.
Guimbal Mayor Christine Garin accepted the prize in behalf of the townsfolk and informed the people that they opted for an ambulance. She said that “Guimbal hosts biggest hospital in the district and an additional ambulance would further the thrust of the town to serve and preserve the health of the people not only in their town but the whole first district of Iloilo.” Furthermore, she said that it is not the prize that mattered most but the recognition of Guimbal as a community that can work together to achieve of goal, in this case – winning Eden: Sarap ng Pasko 100 Days of Christmas competition.
The program ended with lots of on a gastronomic note starting with the distribution of goodies from Kraft Eden cheese to a selected group of children and other beneficiaries. Townsfolk were served with sandwiches (filled with Eden cheese – of course) after program at the plaza was finished.
We were among the fortunate ones to have tasted the winning entry of Guimbal – pininyahang manok with cheese. Far from the usual breakfast fares but equally satisfying, it was a great and delicious first meal of the day on the first day of the traditional misa de gallo held in the first-ever Eden town - Guimbal, Iloilo.
And I can’t wait to look in groceries and find boxes Eden Cheese with the town of Guimbal, Iloilo, its pininyahang manok and other landmarks. As an Ilonggo food blogger, it is very much in line with the thrust I had which started me blogging in the first place – promotion of Iloilo through its gastronomic delights.
Guimbal’s success is more than winning the two million prize or being on the box of Eden Cheese – it is a testament on how the Filipinos, in general, celebrate Christmas. Not only celebrating the world’s longest holiday season but working together as if one family for the good of the community and the rest of the country.