The Mama Sita Foundation’s annual storytelling competition, Mga Kuwentong Pagkain (MKP), which was launched ten years ago, has announced this year’s winning entries. The essay category’s top prize, the “Pinilakang Palayok” award, was awarded to Edelwisa Roman Gonzaga of Moses Lake, Washington State, for her essay “Chasing Ginilo,” which reminisces about her childhood in Bataan, where her family made Ginilo, a refreshing treat made of sweet potatoes, gelatin, and rice crispies in coconut milk and shaved ice. The essay “A Soulmate of Flavors” by Ian Ocampo Flora was awarded the “Sorpresang Sangkap” prize for its tribute to his granduncle’s belief in the Kampampangan culinary philosophy that some ingredients are destined to be together, highlighted by the dish Tausing Ema, consisting of mud crabs and black bean sauce. Jacqueline Dechavez-Brady’s “Nourishment and Love: A Filipino-American’s Understanding” won the “Lakbay-Lasa Award” for her touching story about her uncle Oscar, who was the family’s designated cook, and how he introduced her to Filipino cuisine, shaping her palate as well as her heart. Roel Anthony Wagan’s “Ang Sinigang ni Lola Emma” won the visual narrative category, a heartwarming video about a sour soup dish made from ayungin, an endemic fish species abundant in Laguna de Bay that has sustained his family for generations.
The competition received over 350 entries last year, and the winners were selected by a distinguished panel of judges representing various academic and culinary disciplines, including culinary historian Felice Prudente Sta. Maria, former President of Miriam College Dr. Rosario Lapus, food writer and columnist Michaela Fenix, book designer and writer Ige Ramos, home cook, author, and culinary advocate Nina Daza-Puyat, and Filipino language teacher and author Paolo Ven Paculan. MKP is an annual storytelling contest that celebrates Filipino food heritage.
A decade of Filipino food stories
The Mama Sita Foundation’s MKP started out as a storytelling contest in 2012, aiming to honor the significance and value of Philippine cuisine by gathering stories that highlight it. Over time, it has evolved into an advocacy, particularly in diaspora communities where understanding Filipino identity through food is crucial.
Numerous entries feature beloved family recipes, local culinary customs, regional food myths, and homegrown produce and spices. MKP recognizes the exceptional qualities of Filipino food and the stories that continue to shape its development. To provide greater opportunities for creative expression in sharing food stories, separate categories were established for essays, photos, and videos, with prizes reaching up to ₱20,000 in cash. Keep an eye out for updates on MKP 2023!
