A decade of plant-based feasting

Vegfest Pilipinas celebrated a decade of vegan “fiestanism” from March 29 to March 30 at Paseo de Roxas, Makati. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Vegfest Pilipinas marked its 10th year of vegan “fiestanism” on March 29-30 at Paseo de Roxas, Makati. A celebration of all things plant-based, it turned a once car-clogged street into a lively hub of flavors, advocacy, and community.

As seasoned Vegfest-goers, my kids Jack and Juno and I arrived ready, hydration secured in big water bottles, and my mom’s generously loaned trolley (complete with a removable cooler) primed for our inevitable haul. Since it was Makati’s carless Sunday, we scored free parking along Villar Street.

The author and her children Jack and Juno

Walking into the festival was surreal. BDO Towers Paseo (formerly Citibank Center, my first corporate grind) stood on one side, while Tower One (where I signed off from corporate life for good) loomed on the other. What was once a traffic-ridden stress zone had transformed into a chill venue within a tunnel of trees.

An event stage was on one end while stalls and picnic tables lined the opposite sides. The cloudy weather made it even better; some visitors even laid out blankets at the Ayala Triangle Gardens, soaking in the festive vibe while waiting for finishers from the Vegan Runners morning race.

The kids’ first buy was fruit-topped frozen yogurt from Get Bowl’d.

Even at 9 a.m., my kids went straight for Get Bowl’d’s fruit-topped frozen yogurt. As we navigated the stalls, we ran into award-winning cookbook author and Astig Vegan influencer Richgail Cruz Enriquez-Diez, who recognized Jack from the 2022 Sarap Maging Vegan Kids Cooking competition.

The author, son Jack, award-winning cookbook author and Astig Vegan influencer Richgail Cruz Enriquez-Diez (who remembered Jack from the 2022 “Sarap Maging Vegan Kids Cooking” competition), and the author’s daughter Juno

We sampled the delicious capsicum dip from Therapy ni Tita and admired Marikina Vegan’s vibrant, crafty booth. Unfortunately, we missed out on their sisig meal and grilled corn. The kids were thrilled to score free stickers from PETA and doted on the adorable rescue dogs from Ampon Alaga—who, through their mascot, reminded everyone: “Adopt, don’t shop!”

Dogs being walked by volunteers of Ampon Alaga

The kids scored free stickers from PETA.

Stocking up at Greenery Kitchen was a must. We grabbed their signature Korean BBQ and tried their leche flan, which did not disappoint.

We stocked up on Greenery Kitchen’s Korean BBQ and tried their leche flan, which was good.

And of course, I had pre-ordered from The Vegan Grocer pantry staples like nutritional yeast, mushroom atchara, and Nuno chili beef spread, plus a few indulgences: instant miso soup packets, Baker’s Gallery ensaymada, and Cakesmith’s French macarons (Juno’s absolute favorite).

Interesting discoveries and some letdowns

A few near-misses: Shirley’s Just Vegan silvanas sold out too soon, and Farmassist’s best-value Pan Alo (thin-crust pizza) and pasta didn’t make it into our already full cart and stomachs. At least I got their P35 calamansi ginger iced tea (a steal compared to other drinks averaging P150).

Bataan-based Vaked sold bread as is or stuffed with Happy Scoop frozen dessert mamang sorbetero-style, though we didn’t get a chance to circle back for it.

Vaked from Bataan sold their bread as is or stuffed with Happy Scoop frozen dessert, “mamang sorbetero”-style.

A surprise highlight was Just Cold’s P100 chocolate croissant. I wasn’t expecting much, as Chef Jeng’s remains my gold standard for vegan croissants locally, but it was comparable. Too bad they didn’t bring back their donuts from The Green Market last year.

This P100 chocolate croissant from Just Cold was a happy discovery.

Not everything hit the mark. Indulge’s panopoulos pizza (P175) was underwhelming, and the service? Painfully slow. Berde Eats had a mixed showing: Ate Hannah, our Vegfest first-timer, enjoyed her matcha donut, but their panaderya-style ensaymada, Spanish bread, and asado bun were all sadly dry. Meanwhile, Vegan Bytes’ stuffed cheezburger pizza delivered. At P380 for four slices, it was a flavorful, fair-priced win.

Another miss: the Oreo croffle (P199) from Kwentong Dagat. Though it used Chef Jeng’s croissant dough, it didn’t wow me. I’d stick to the original croissant.

Actress Nadine Lustre mans her Maison Bukana Wines and Dehusk coconut milk booth.

Savory standouts, sweet endings

Vegfest regular Maryland Chick’an brought a fresh addition: fruit sorbets! Jack enjoyed the blueberry sorbet with the fried watermelon and fried Oreos.

Plant-based carinderia Vutcher impressed with their P180 rice bowls. The chick’un curry was delightfully crunchy (though it could’ve used more sauce), while the estofado and broccoli veef pares were bursting with flavor. Minor gripe: chopping the mock meat smaller would’ve balanced the dish better. Their beefy pimiento big empanada (P120) was okay, but a tangy dip could’ve elevated it. Still, I long for a true Vigan-style Ilocos empanada. My brother Jay liked their beefy siomai, though.

To cap off our non-stop noshing, we grabbed the Buy 1 Take 1 Doc Chef sugar-free popsies (P100 for two) in cookie creme and chocolate. Refreshing and guilt-free! Meanwhile, Juno loved the Sagana coconut spread so much she ate it straight, skipping the bread altogether.

I also indulged in From the Planet’s gluten-free, naturally sweetened chilled cookies (P380 per tub). It was a splurge, but I enjoyed the sampler: quattro choco, classic chewy, coco oats, and matcha blossom. The kids? Not as sold.

Vegfest Pilipinas 2025 delivered a flavorful mix of discoveries, nostalgic bites, and the occasional disappointment. But it remains a highlight for me, arriving earlier than expected (March instead of November), a joyful juxtaposition of food, community, and advocacy. With a decade now under its belt, I’m excited for many more years of plant-powered feasting!