Gulay Na

16/04/2026

May community cooking tayo sa April 18 in solidarity with the 42nd Peoples' Cordillera Day in Metro Manila.

Traditional and Cordillera-inspired dishes:
Pinaltit: spicy coconut
Intum ay Karubfas: roasted kalabasa
Kineykey: ground pigeon peas with vegetables
Finorfor: beans with rice
Sayote Turon with Taogtog Jam
Unoy Rice Horchata

Mag-sign up lang dito: https://forms.gle/5pX7CVFkDthZ3Ts79

Event is free but we encourage donations.

27/03/2026

Earlier today, we delivered sopas and ginataang bilo bilo to the drivers and commuters at the Strike Center in Cubao. We were joined by food advocates, small businesses and volunteers.

As the fuel crisis increases the burden of everyday living to our drivers, we are inspired by their willingness to fight and stand for all of us.

We join them in the call to remove excise tax and VAT on oil, control oil prices and for wage increase.

We also call for an end to the US-Israel war against nations.

In these trying times, may we join together in solidarity and collective care and action.

Thank you to everyone who joined and sent their donations.

26/03/2026

Dahil mahalaga ang pagdadamayan sa gitna ng krisis at kumakalam na tiyan. Tara, samahan ninyo kami sa pagluluto at paghahatid ng masustansyang pagkain bilang pakikiisa sa laban ng mga tsuper at komyuter. Inisyatiba ng Gulay Na , Gulay Lang at oneveg.

You may also support by sending donations and ingredients. Just PM us for details.

26/03/2026

Firstly, the libel case indicates a government agency’s inability to take responsibility for the work it produces. Santiago says, “A government agency refusing to be held accountable for a decision it made to print a work that is factually incorrect, this is the first layer. Why is the DTI silent, when it is through this office that public funds were used to print this book?”

The second layer? “To begin with, [Melchor] could totally ignore the review, hindi ba? As many authors do. But instead, he sought redress, not for the corrections that were being made on his work, but on what he says are attacks on his character in the comments sections of the critic’s [Felix’s] posts, and given the critic’s presumed intent of gaining some mileage or power for himself.”

In February, food heritage advocate John Sherwin Felix found himself the recipient of a lawsuit for cyberlibel lodged by Chef Jam Melchor after Felix criticized his government-published cookbook for “cultural and scientific inaccuracies.” And for writer and critic Katrina Stuart Santiago, the suit is symptomatic of a larger cultural problem: “We don’t know how to deal with criticism, how and when to respond, [and] how to hold space despite disagreement and come to a resolution.”

Read more on rollingstonephilippines.com
Photo from John Sherwin Felix/Facebook

18/03/2026

Meet our speakers and community cooking facilitators!

Kita-kits sa March 30! :)

18/03/2026

“It’s our right to scrutinize the project as an expert, as a researcher, and of course as a taxpayer,” said Felix, the founder of Lokalpedia, an online platform focusing on Philippine food heritage and biodiversity.

‘NO MALICE’ John Sherwin Felix is optimistic the cyberlibel complaint against him will be dismissed, but warns of its “chilling effect” on fellow researchers, journalists and ordinary

18/03/2026

Felix cautioned the public to be vigilant with published books on literature and culture. “This is a national interest,” he said. “Our culture is our core as Filipinos so we need accurate documentation to give respect to the communities who own the knowledge and for future generations to rely on,” he added.

The book was released during the Filipino Food Month celebration in April 2025. Felix received a copy of the book on September 16 of that year. Skimming through his copy, he told Bulatlat that he immediately noticed mistakes. “Not just two or three, more than a dozen actually,” he said.

13/03/2026

November G. Canieso-Yeo of Plantsville Health: "John Sherwin Felix was the first ever person whom I brought to the Philippine cinnamon kaningag farms to show the different species and their aromas in the mountains of DSB. In fact, we were together for 2 whole days, exploring the Silay public market, carinderias, talking to farmers and small food producers."

13/03/2026

"It is a sad day for cultural advocacy when my friend Sherwin, a citizen of this so-called democratic republic, is threatened with imprisonment simply for speaking what he believes to be true.

Many people complain that the country has failed them. Yet when the moment comes to speak out, fear takes hold. Silence becomes easier.
Sherwin has never chosen silence."

AN ELEGY FOR COURAGE (Entry n°7). When I first met Sherwin Felix a few years ago, I did not meet just another content creator. I met a brother in arms.
It was deeply re-assuring to discover that we shared the same dream: that one day this country might finally appreciate and embrace the immense abundance of its own culture. When ever he and I would have dialogues, Sherwin's passion for our food-ways is nothing short of infectious. I can vouch that a road trip with him is never boring. He may be four years younger than me; yet when he speaks, he speaks of so much lived experience.
Through him, my own perspective grew far beyond the quiet comfort of libraries and theories. Sherwin reminded me that gastronomy is never just gastronomy. It carries memory, struggle, identity, and power; and that our food-ways will always be steeped in politicism, whether we like it or not.
Which brings me to this moment.
It is a sad day for cultural advocacy when my friend Sherwin, a citizen of this so-called democratic republic, is threatened with imprisonment simply for speaking what he believes to be true.
Many people complain that the country has failed them. Yet when the moment comes to speak out, fear takes hold. Silence becomes easier.
Sherwin has never chosen silence.
When he sees something wrong, he says so. Firmly, without hesitation. That kind of courage is rare in our time, and for that he will always have my respect.
I can only hope that our institutions find the clarity and humility to recognise the difference between criticism and crime, between accountability and persecution.
And to the accuser, I offer only this:
deflecting accountability may silence critics for a moment. But in the end, it is your own name that will bear the weight of it.
Padáyon, Sherwin!

End of article.

Roberto Villarcabral
11 March 2026

12/03/2026

"His continued documentation and work affirm that food advocacy is an active and ongoing pursuit. It shows how vigilance, respect, collaboration, and accountability are essential in advancing food systems that serve the public good.

MASIPAG stands firmly with Felix, recognizing him as one of the many advocates safeguarding Philippine heritage. At a time when democratic and civic spaces continue to shrink, defending voices like his is crucial to protecting both cultural identity and the right to dissent."

𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗣𝗔𝗚 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘅.

At a press conference held on March 9, 2026, Felix’s legal counsel asserted that the libel case is baseless. Felix pointed out inaccuracies in the recipe book Kayumanggi: A Kaleidoscope of Filipino Flavors and Food Traditions, published by the DTI. His critique was part of legitimate academic discourse and public accountability, not libel. This case is therefore a clear assault on freedom of expression.

Sherwin’s work through Lokalpedia has built a valuable archive documenting native, endemic, and endangered Philippine flora and fauna, alongside the country’s rich food heritage. MASIPAG has had the privilege of sharing many spaces and collaborations with Lokalpedia in our shared vision of more democratic and diverse food systems.

Among these engagements, Sherwin has immersed himself with farmers, consumers, and chefs in exchange activities in Tuba, Benguet; volunteered during the Patikim Festival organized by farmers in North Quezon; contributed to the conceptualization of Gulay Pa More; and participated in many other collaborative efforts.

His continued documentation and work affirm that food advocacy is an active and ongoing pursuit. It shows how vigilance, respect, collaboration, and accountability are essential in advancing food systems that serve the public good.

MASIPAG stands firmly with Felix, recognizing him as one of the many advocates safeguarding Philippine heritage. At a time when democratic and civic spaces continue to shrink, defending voices like his is crucial to protecting both cultural identity and the right to dissent.

11/03/2026

Cagayan Heritage Conservation Society Community stands with Lokalpedia

11/03/2026

Food advocates back Lokalpedia founder John Sherwin Felix as he faces cyber libel charges

John Sherwin Felix, founder of Lokalpedia, is facing a legal case for his advocacy for Filipino food heritage and ingredients. His case came up after pointing out inaccuracies in the recipe book Kayumanggi: A Kaleidoscope of Filipino Flavors and Food Traditions published by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

On March 10, he was joined by his legal team and food heritage advocate group Gulay Na! in filing his counter-affidavit. On the same day, a presscon was organized by food and biodiversity advocates in support of Felix.

During the presscon, Felix narrated the initial excitement he felt when he received a copy of the recipe book last September 2025. However, he was surprised when he saw inaccuracies. Among these, on page 136, the book stated that the “yellowish-orange color” of Kare Kare “comes from the addition of peanuts or peanut butter.” In fact, what gives the dish its color is atsuete or annatto.

Another inaccuracy corrected by Felix is the mention of pork and chicken as the main ingredient of Pancit Batil Patong, a Tuguegarao delicacy. It also mentioned tomato as a topping. In the book Pancit 101: Dishes of Luzon by Jame Monren T. Mercado, Avi Ben P. Andalecio, and Evelyn O. Katigbak, the recipe for pancit batil patong contains no tomatoes, shredded chicken, or ground pork. The authors list carabeef as the main protein, which aligns with an article on the dish’s history by Jan Karl Coballes of the Cagayan Museum and Historical Research Center. Coballes identifies carabao beef as one of the defining elements of pancit batil patong, and he makes no mention of tomatoes in its evolution.

Several errors were also found in the recipes for Kulawong Tulong, Piaparan a Manok, Humba, KBL (Kadios, Baboy, Langka) and Tiyula Itum.

Felix has since posted these in Lokalpedia’s page while also waiting for the response to the communication he sent to the DTI and the author. He has not received any response from both parties until he was served a subpoena last February.

"The grave errors in the recipes are not simply culinary inaccuracies. The omission of siyunug lahing in tiyula itum, the failure to smoke coconut in kulawo, the misinformation regarding kadyos and tawilis, and the incorrect ingredients in kare-kare and batil patong all reflect a profound lack of cultural sensitivity and disrespect toward the communities that prepare these dishes daily.
Nawawala ang pagpapahalaga sa saribuhay ng Pilipinas at sa mahabang kasaysayan ng paggawa ng mga magsasaka, katutubo at kababaihan,” Chef Laorence Castillo, co-founder of Gulay Na! said.

Castillo lamented that instead of correcting the mistakes found in the recipe book, Felix was instead charged with cyber libel. He said that the lack of accountability is a disservice to the communities and is dangerous as it allows the spread of misinformation.

For Atty. Man Hernando, the filing of the case goes against the freedom of expression of Felix especially since the criticism was made towards wrong information as published by a government agency.

In a written statement, biodiversity advocates Celine and Dennis Murillo expressed support for Felix.

“We stand by and support Lokalpedia founder John Sherwin Felix in his efforts to honor our traditional foodways and culinary heritage, including his courageous commentaries and expositions of inconsistencies, neglect, and abuse regarding our work. As archivists, documentarists, and storytellers, we must hold ourselves, our peers, and our institutions – especially our institutions – to the highest standards, and call for accountability whenever necessary. In the same vein, if we deem ourselves worthy of doing this work, we must be able to defend it whenever and wherever it is required of us,” the statement read.

Since the presscon, individuals and organizations have posted their support for Felix in their own social media channels.