Celebrating Filipino
Culinary Storytelling

Honoring the legacy of Doreen Gamboa Fernandez—renowned cultural historian, writer, and food critic who illuminated the richness of Filipino cuisine and theater—the DGF Awards invite video creators to continue her mission.

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Join the First-Ever DGF Short Food Video Award

Tell the story of Filipino food through video.
This year’s theme: Minatamis.

For over 20 years, the Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Awards have celebrated the power of food storytelling. Now, we bring this tradition into the digital age—inviting video creators to capture the essence of Filipino cuisine through short films.

Whether it’s a recipe, a documentary on local cooks and traditions, or a personal story of food and culture, we want to see how you this year’s Minatamis theme to life.

No entry fee. Open to all Filipino video creators worldwide.

Submissions open until August 31, 2025, 11:59PM (Philippine Time).

Awarding for both the DGF Video Awards and DGF Food Writing Awards is on September 20, 2025 at Rockwell Club.

Submit Your Entry →

More About the Awards →

2025 Theme: Minatamis
Philippine Desserts and Sweet Merienda Staples

Doreen Gamboa Fernandez, Tikim (1994)

“Although desserts, cake and sweets are not as high on the consciousness as they might be in other countries, a sweet — postre, panghimagas — after a meal is within tradition.”

This year, we invite video creators to explore the sweet side of Filipino food culture. From heirloom desserts to street-side minatamis and icy merienda, the Filipino palate celebrates both Spanish legacies and native fruit-based confections.

In the words of Doreen Gamboa Fernandez, our sweets are “the sweets of the landscape”—carved guava, preserved coconut, and iced caramelo squeezed with dayap. Whether it’s leche flan, halo-halo, or a forgotten childhood favorite, there’s a story worth sharing on camera.

Into telling stories through words? Join the DGF Food Writing Award.

Submit an essay of at least 800 words, within the same theme and include your research and references at the end of your essay. Send your entry with a separate author's file that indicates your pen name, real name, title of the essay, address, contact information to dgfawards@yahoo.com.ph. Each contestant may submit up to two essays under different pen names.

Doreen Gamboa Fernandez

Doreen Gamboa Fernandez (1934–2002) was a pioneering figure in Philippine food writing. As a professor, historian, and critic, she explored the deep connections between food, culture, and identity, asking: How does food become Filipino?

Through her work, she documented regional dishes, championed local chefs, and preserved culinary traditions. The DGF Awards continue her mission—encouraging new generations to tell meaningful food stories, now through the power of video.