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MANILA, September 12, 2026 (SDN) — Mindanao’s culinary traditions and delights, particularly from the Bangsamoro region, will take center stage during the 2026 Philippine Halal Industry Summit on September 19, 20.

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) headed by Secretary Sabuddin N. Abdurahim is mandated by Republic Act No. 9997 to grow and expand, as well as promote, the country’s domestic and international Halal market.

Part of the NCMF’s mandate is to accredit qualified Halal Certifiying Bodies (HCBs) in or operating in the country through its Bureau of Muslim Economic Affairs (BMEA) led by Director Saleha Pangarungan Sacar. BMEA is the NCMF’s chief arm in Halal matters.

NCMF’s forthcoming Halal Summit will be held at New World Makati Hotel along Arnaiz Avenue (formerly Pasay Road), across the street from Greenbelt 3. The two-event revolves around the theme of “Advancing the Philippine Halal Ecosystem: Integration, Innovation, and Global Competitiveness“.

Organizers of the activities are led by NCMF-BMEA, in collaboration with the Philippine Heritage Kitchen and the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) Manila.

SDN – SciTech & Digital News learned that the Halal Summit will open the first day, Saturday, the following day, Sunday, will showcase Kanduli — Grand Halal Food Festival to be presented by the Philippine Heritage Kitchen at New World Makati Hotel’s The Glasshouse, and will feature Cooking Lessons with Alavar’s Chef Jomari Alfaro, and Cooking the Halal Way with Chef Hanna Yasmin E. Usman-Yang.

Of course, it’s not just the Bangsamoro culinary traditions and delights of the 13 Moro ethnic communities, or at least some of them, but Zamboanga’s Alacar, making it a Mindanawan showcase of gustatory delights.

Chef Jomari is set to demonstrate “The Art of Zamboanga Seafood” that includes Chavacano Paella Negra, Alavar Arroz de la Mar, and Pitik con Salsa Blanca.

Chef Hanna, on the other hand, will conduct a class on “Cooking the Halal Way: Everyday Dishes Made Halal”.

Chef Miggy Cabel Moreno of the Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded Palm Grill and Cabel is also featured in the cooking beyond the restaurant, a Halal cooking lessons, and a Food and Crafts Bazaar.

“Kanduli”,  is a Maguindanaon word which roughly means a “thanksgiving feast” held by Moro families to thank Allah (God in Arabic) for something good that happened, say, celebrate a child’s birth, or seek blessings, protection, sometimes done in a grand way among those who are financially well-off.

Ticket for the Kanduli Grand Halal Lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. costs Php2,500 each person (Php3,500 for a one day pass), and Php1,800 for the Cooking Lessons — 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Inquiries maybe made through Viber #0968.136.6988.

The Bazaar from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. is for free admission.

The Philippine Heritage Kitchen describes the Kanduli on September 20, thus:

“A special gathering that showcases the rich culinary traditions of Mindanao, all under all-halal table. This event gives guests a unique opportunity to experience Mindanao’s diverse flavors, food traditions, and cultural heritage.”

Awaiting attendees are fresh seafood to be flown straight from Zamboanga City’s iconic Alavar. There will be as well lesser-known Mindanawan dishes the food aficionado may want to explore and taste.

The 13 Bangsamoro ethnolinguistic groups are:

• Badjao (Sama Dilaut), sea nomads
• Iranun
• Jama Mapun
• Kalagan (Ka’agan)
• Kalibugan (Kolibugan)
• Maguindanaon
• Maranao
• Molbog
• Palawano (Palawani)
• Sama (Samal)
• Sangil (Sangir)
• Tausug (Tao-Sug)
• Yakan

It can be recalled the NCMF and the CCA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last month on August 12 at the University of the Philippines (UP), Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig City,

Signing for the NCMF were Sacar, and Administrative Service Director Gary A. Habibon while CCA CEO Marinela “Badjie” Guerrero Trinidad, and CCA Chancellor for Education Dr. Veritas Luna.

Accordingly, the MOU joins the NCMF and the CCA in strengthening the Philippine Halal industry’s development and promotion.

“The partnership seeks to strengthen collaboration between the government and the culinary sector in advancing Halal awareness, knowledge, and practices. Through the MOU, NCMF and CCA will explore programs and initiatives that can enhance understanding of Halal standards and requirements, particularly among culinary professionals, students, food entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders in the food and hospitality industry,” the NCMF said.

PH should take a bite at over US$7.36 trillion global Halal market

Moving forward, the NCMF and CCA’s collaboration will hopefully be forward in the promotion of a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable Philippine Halal industry that strengthens the country’s capacity to meet the domestic and international markets’ expanding demand for quality Halal food and culinary services.

In relation with the government’s active promotion of Halal industry, observers are hoping other culinary and non-culinary schools, as the CCA is doing, in the country would wake up to a realization that embracing Halal would help in nation-building not just in economic benefit, but may also usher in unity among the citizens, and know that Halal is for everybody, not only for Muslims.

In fact, CCA Manila is obviously diving deep into the Halal of things.

“This September, Muslim Filipino students begin a new path in the kitchen. We are excited to launch our Halal Culinary Course at the Philippine Halal Industry Summit 2026, built in partnership with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos. The course gives Muslim Filipino students a dedicated path into professional kitchens, with tuition financing now available through Al-Amanah Islamic Bank,” CCA Manila announces on its Facebook page.

Especially that the Halal industry continues to expand and grow, and encompasses a wide range of goods and services complying with Shari’ah (the Islamic Law), from the traditional food items to non-food, such as lifestyle, finance, and commerce.

You have Halal Food and Beverages, Halal Cosmetics and Personal Care, Halal Pharmaceuticals, Modest Fashion, Lifestyle Accessories; Islamic Finance and Fintech, Muslim -Friendly Travel and Tourism, Halal Logistics and Supply Chain, Media / Marketing / Recreation, and Halal Certification Services.

SESRIC.ORG has found that in 2023 the global Halal market reached the value of around US$7.36 trillion and is projected to climb to $19.89 trillion by 2028.

That’s a lot to bite! — EDD K. USMAN / SDN

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The author

EDD, a native of Sub-Saharan Africa Buluan/Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, BARMM, college at UST, is a Manila-based journalist for over 40 years (33 years with Manila Bulletin), has five Media Awards (1 with University of the Philippines (UP) 2017 Science Journalism Award), covered and traveled over 40 times abroad), has contributed to Rappler, Business Mirror, Manila Business Insights, Panorama Magazine, Agriculture Magazine, and others, former Manila-based Foreign Correspondent of Saudi Arabia newspapers Saudi Gazette and Riyadh Daily, and The Peninsula (Qatar newspaper), with 2008 East-West Center (EWC) Journalism Seminar in the United States, 2000 Executive IT Seminar in Seoul, South Korea, with three Silver Awards in Photography, writes Muslim and Current Affairs, Enterprise, Science, Tech, Products Launch, and virtually everything under Heaven. (®)