By Monsi A. Serrano
The inaugural Sabor Latino festival, the Philippines’ first large-scale celebration of Latin American food, culture, and commercial collaboration, made a strong market debut, attracting more than 10,000 visitors. The turnout reflected a rising Filipino interest in global cultural experiences and opened new avenues for cross-regional business and community engagement.
In an interview with THEPHILBIZNEWS, Latin American Commercial Services (LCS) executives Kristin Nacilla, Head of Operations, and Diego Cabello, Head of Business Services, described the maiden edition as a milestone for the organization and its network of merchants, cultural institutions, and sponsors. They noted that the high volume of attendees exceeded expectations, with many visitors participating in activities, engaging with exhibitors, and returning for the second day—a strong indication of overall satisfaction and perceived event value.
The festival’s success was driven by strong engagement across multiple touchpoints, including salsa workshops, culinary tastings, interactive cultural presentations, and merchant showcases. These activities enabled brands to introduce authentic Latin American products and cuisines to Filipino consumers while strengthening their visibility in a new market. LCS also credited the unified effort of staff, sponsors, venue partners, media organizations, and institutional collaborators for delivering smooth operations and a cohesive visitor experience. Feedback from guests and partners reinforced the festival’s relevance and long-term potential.
Nacilla and Cabello confirmed that the positive outcome has already deepened relationships with participating merchants, many of whom have expressed early interest in joining the 2026 edition. As planning progresses, the organizers are exploring ways to position Sabor Latino as an annual platform for cultural exchange, business promotion, and regional partnership development.
Cabello said the team aims to expand country representation, enhance cultural programming, and increase the variety of Latin American products and cuisines showcased to the Philippine market. This direction supports LCS Manila’s mission to elevate Latin American visibility in the Philippines and build meaningful commercial bridges between communities.
The team also shared that they plan to scale up next year’s edition by onboarding more exhibitors and expanding visitor capacity. The goal is to diversify offerings, support more Latin American entrepreneurs, and provide Filipino consumers greater access to regional flavors, artisanal goods, cultural activities, and opportunities for trade and tourism collaboration.
Nacilla expressed gratitude to partners and supporters. “We thank all our partners who made Sabor Latino 2025 a resounding success. We greatly appreciate THEPHILBIZNEWS’ support and look forward to deeper collaboration as we grow Sabor Latino and expand our initiatives in the Philippines.”
Sabor Latino 2025 drew around 10,000 visitors over two days, and organizers are now preparing for an even bigger, more collaborative edition in 2026.