Honoring Ancestral Plates: Pakil Baybay Premier’s Culinary Initiative Unites District 3820 and Beyond
The Rotaract Club of Pakil Baybay Premier has launched an ambitious and flavorful initiative — Project HAPAG: Honoring Ancestral Plates and Gastronomy — Uniting Cultures Through Food and Tradition.
This multifaceted project, blending Public Image and International Service, transcends a simple cultural exchange by placing local delicacies at its very heart. It aims to foster camaraderie and appreciation for regional heritage across the Philippines and beyond.
Project HAPAG operates on a straightforward yet deeply meaningful structure designed to ensure time efficiency and authentic cultural exchange. Participating Rotaract clubs are encouraged to bring local delicacies or food items from their respective areas. Each club is then given 10–15 minutes to present their dish, delving into its history, unique characteristics, and cultural significance.
Following the presentations, the highlight of the event — the “Hapag Kainan” (dining table) — begins. All the shared dishes are laid out, allowing members from different clubs to taste and experience the Philippines’ diverse culinary landscape together. The activity concludes with a Local Food Exchange, where participants exchange food items as pasalubong (tokens or souvenirs) for fellow Rotaract clubs.
The project began its journey last July with an impressive start. The inaugural leg, held in Naga City, Camarines Sur, coincided with a Rotary Mass Induction and was spearheaded by ten clubs from District 3820. The second leg expanded its reach during the Rotaract District Learning Seminar in Tiaong, Quezon, involving twenty clubs from the same district. Most recently, Project HAPAG traveled north for the induction of the club’s prospective twin club — the Rotaract Club of Magsingal North in Ilocos Sur.
Looking ahead, the Rotaract Club of Pakil Baybay Premier aims to “roam around the provinces of District 3820,” with a special focus on showcasing CALABARZON’s local delicacies. The club also plans to bring Project HAPAG to major conventions, such as the Pilipinas Rotaract Convention in Iloilo, where they hope to feature the host district’s culinary treasures, and the Asia Pacific Rotaract Regional Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
In culmination, the club intends to produce a coffee table book by the end of Rotary Year 2025–2026, documenting their extensive travels, partnerships, and experiences throughout the Project HAPAG journey.
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