๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐
๐จ๐จ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฒ
The Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) through the initiative of the External Linkages and International (ELIA) office led by its Director Dr. Marianne P. Villaruel,ย co-hosted and actively participated in a three-day international virtual convergence on gastronomic tourism, food diplomacy, and sustainability as part of a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) initiative led by Quirino State University via Zoom from 28-30 April.
The 2026 International Spring Convergence on Gastronomic Tourism, Food Diplomacy and Sustainability partner institutions included Palawan State University, Urdaneta City University, Marinduque State University, Mindoro State University, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Bandung Islamic University (Indonesia), and Howard University (USA). The theme was "Culinary Heritage and Food Innovation for a Resilient and Sustainable Future."
TAU President Dr. Silverio R. Ramos delivered a welcome message during the convergence. Students and faculty from the College of Agriculture and Forestry (CAF), College of Education (CEd), and College of Business and Management (CBM) participated voluntarily following a university memorandum encouraging global academic engagement.
๐ง๐๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐น๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฏ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
Three TAU faculty members served as resource speakers: Ms. Maricar Estrada, PFT, from CAF under the Department of Food Science and Technology discussed integrating food science principles into heritage preservation and sustainable product development; Mr. Jefferson L. Bautista from CEd presented pedagogical approaches to embedding culinary heritage and food diplomacy into school curricula; and Mr. Mark Lawrence Y. Dupitas, also from CEd, delivered a presentation on food literacy, community engagement, and cultural identity.
๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐น๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐
The convergence provided a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration in gastronomy, tourism, and sustainable development. Partner institutions exchanged research findings, best practices, and models for using food as a tool for diplomacy, cultural preservation, and community empowerment. TAU officials underscored that the University remains committed to internationalization, research collaboration, and sustainability through continued global partnerships.
