24/04/2026
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Eight years since my visit to Bohol to cover the stark outlook surrounding ube, which came down to a lack of successors, climate change, and apathy in agriculture, the same issues persist. And this is despite global enthusiasm for the crop that, even until today, continues to grow.
Now, there is another issue ube faces. “We are losing ube’s Filipino identity abroad,” says James Zarsadiaz, a Filipino American history professor in an interview for this issue’s cover story. “Many in the US have heard about ube, they know the ingredient but they don’t make the connection that it is part of Filipino culture.”
Which is why putting the spotlight (again) on one of the most iconic Filipino products on Filipino Food Month is our bid to bring attention to the ube industry and the farmers that need support. As Sam Beltran wrote in the cover story, “it’s not too late for the Philippines to turn the tides on ube.”
In some ways, it also mirrors F&B Report’s return to print albeit in a concise, limited-run, and free(!) format. With the resurgence of intentional consumption and the pushback against digital fatigue, there may still be room for print to engage with its audience.
That’s what we hope to achieve as far as our print reintroduction goes—which includes food writer Jaclyn Clemente-Koppe profile on Valery Anthony of Lusso For home-based entrepreneurs, Crepe Glazik's Neven and Nicole Charpentier trace their growth and expansion journey while sibling entrepreneurs King and Vanessa del Rosario of La Mesa Mead make a case for Filipino mead’s potential.
Or, you can also vicariously experience our managing editor Pauline Miranda's time aboard the Disney Cruise Line (with videos available on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok). Either way, here’s to hoping the magic of beautiful print, ube, and the signature F&B Report touch never fade away.
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Story by Sam Beltran
Photo by Jar Concengco
Styling by Chichi Tullao
Art direction by Ella Lambio
Editor: Eric Nicole Salta
