A post shared by Madrid Fusion Manila (@madridfusionmanila) on Apr 9, 2017 at 3:56am PDT

MANILA – It’s not an April Fool’s prank.

Days after it was reported that Madrid Fusion Manila 2018 has been put on hold, the gastronomy congress is no longer pushing through.

Cesar Montano, head of the Tourism Promotions Board which will supposedly handle this year’s Madrid Fusion Manila, made the statement in an article published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Sunday.

“With all the confusion and speculation on whether or not Madrid Fusion Manila 2018 will push through, I had lunch with actor Cesar Montano to get a categorical answer… According to Montano himself, the answer is a no. Madrid Fusion Manila 2018 is no longer pushing through,” Margaux Salcedo wrote in her latest column for the newspaper.

She added: “The present administration, it seemed, did not really appreciate the project. The reason, Montano says: Many are of the impression the government is spending so much money promoting other cultures.”

Quoting Montano, Salcedo said Madrid Fusion Manila will be replaced by a project called “Buhay Carinderia,” which aims to redefine the Filipino eatery “as something innovative, dynamic, and relatable.”

• 10 great food finds at Madrid Fusion Manila 2017

Originally slated for April this year, Madrid Fusion Manila showcased the shared history of the Philippines and Spain through talks and trade exhibitions, to name a few.

In her column, Salcedo pointed out the importance of the annual event in Manila, which started in 2015.

“As high-brow and condescending as it might appear to be, Madrid Fusion Manila played a great role in three things: (1) Putting the Philippines on the world map of culinary players; (2) putting a handful – it may just be one hand but it’s full – of Filipino chefs on the map; and (3) inspiring aspiring chefs by having their idols talk here,” she noted.

“Madrid Fusion Manila made so much noise that it was impossible for the world to ignore. Suddenly, heads turned to Manila, wondering why Spain chose Manila over Asian culinary giants.”