MANILA Mayor Isko Moreno announced that the city government will be launching by mid-month ‘Manila Restaurant Week’ with the end in view of promoting the restaurants in the city and revving up the business climate amid the pandemic.
Moreno said the week long food festival, which is a brainchild of permits bureau chief Levi Facundo, aims to support city-based entrepreneurs particularly local restaurateurs, the city government and the city’s economy.
All these, Moreno said, while the patrons will be made to ‘savor memories of the past as you dine with our partner restaurants amidst the view of the Old Manila.’
According to the mayor, the ‘Manila Restaurant Week’ is slated to take place from September 20 to 27, 2020. It is an offshoot of the ’Manila Support Local’ campaign earlier launched by the city government to encourage the public to patronize Manila-based establishments when they eat, shop or buy any of their needs.
“This citywide celebration is meant to promote Manila restaurants, from the most prominent ones to the ‘hidden gems.’ Each time you avail from our partner restaurants, you give back to these establishments the honor of being resilient amid challenges from which we are truly grateful,” Moreno said.
It was learned from Facundo that as of this writing, there are already 66 restaurant owners who have expressed their desire to partner with and join in the week long festival.
Each participating restaurant will offer prix-fixe breakfast, lunch and/or dinner at affordable rates to promote their restaurant by showcasing their specialties and new inventions, Facundo explained.
“As we welcome you back to where history and food collide, we invite you to travel back in time as we launch a week long food festival. This festival aims to support the different businesses in Manila during this pandemic by promoting and acknowledging them,” Facundo said.
He added: “For the first time in history, as the City of Manila adapts to the restrictions placed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are virtually launching the Manila Restaurant Week 2020, designed to capture the attention of the public and introduce each participating restaurant. Media, celebrities and influencers will go around each participating restaurant to introduce their prix-fixe menus on livestream media via various and popular online platforms.””
‘Manila Restaurant Week’ will be held every month for eight days (from Sunday to Sunday) until things are back to normal.
Invitations were sent to various establishments that serve food.
Participating establishments, whether fine dining, casual dining, cafes, bar or lounges were required to promote the program for at least two weeks on their social media pages and on their front doors for walk in customers.
The grand virtual launch will be on September 15 in different venues that will be announced later.
Meanwhile, Moreno issued an executive order temporarily closing the city’s private and public columbaries and cemeteries, including the Manila North Cemetery and the Manila South Cemetery, from October 31 up to November 3.
The order aims to avoid crowding which usually happens during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day and which can cause transmission of COVID-19.
The announcement was made early so that the public can visit their loved ones in advance.
