The Department of Home Economics Education (DHEEd) of the UP College of Home Economics proudly commemorated World Home Economics Day 2026 with the launch of the Hapag-kainan exhibit, held on March 23, 2026, at the UP College of Home Economics Museum Building Lobby. Led by Assistant Prof. Mary Justine Clarise A. Trinidad, the project aimed to honor traditional food practices that sustain health, family, and sustainability.

Dr. de Guzman highlights that the Filipino table—the Hapag—is a site of bonding where "no one sits higher than another." Whether it is the smoky resilience of grilled pork or the patience required for Kare-kare, each dish tells a story, and food becomes more than sustenance—it becomes a vessel of memory, identity, and community.

Each section features artifacts that reflect how generations of Filipinos have lived out the principle of “You are what you eat” through their material culture. From woven baskets like bayong, buslo, and kuribot to traditional kitchen tools such as palayok, dalikan, and sandok, the exhibit shows the resourcefulness and regional diversity of Filipino food practices. It also showcases social and cultural symbols such as pinggang lusa, sartin, kubyertos, hornong luwad, and takore, which tell stories of cultural fusion, family bonding, shared experiences, and communal resilience.

The Hapag-kainan exhibit is open from March 23 to April 30, 2026, at the CHE Museum Building Boutique. Visitors are encouraged to explore the artifacts, reflect on their cultural significance, and participate in ongoing efforts to sustain our culinary heritage.