WWF-Philippines Launches 'Balay Kawayan' at IFEX 2018
May 2018
The Sustainable Diner project team, together with representatives from the Studio of Secret 6, Inc., opens the WWF-Philippines exhibit at IFEX 2018 with the launch of Balay Kawayan. © Gabriel Villalon / WWF-Philippines
In partnership with the Department of Agriculture and the Studio of Secret6, Inc., World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines’ The Sustainable Diner: A Key Ingredient for Sustainable Tourism project launched Balay Kawayan at the recently concluded International Food Exhibition (IFEX) 2018, which ran from May 25 to 27, 2018.
Meant for the project’s interactive exhibit set-ups, Balay Kawayan is a restaurant simulation game where Filipino diners are issued a carbon footprint receipt after going through the entire virtual process of ordering and dining in. The receipt issued features the dishes they ordered and explanation on their respective carbon footprint, which serves as an opportunity for WWF to provide in depth information on the importance of sustainable dining.
The game also features key decision points that teaches Filipino diners about reducing food waste and minimizing their use of plastics.
Filipino diners who played the game were treated to colorful graphics reminiscent of traditional Filipino family restaurants, a fiesta-like vibe through sounds that used traditional Filipino musical instruments and tones, as well as virtual dishes that will truly remind them of Filipino homecooking. Through the close cooperation between the Studio of Secret6, Inc. and The Sustainable Diner project team, the game was designed to be as relatable as possible to the average Filipino consumer through design elements that are very close to home.
Balay Kawayan drew a lot of attention to the WWF-Philippines booth. Throughout the three days of IFEX 2018, almost a hundred people have played the restaurant simulation game. © Gabriel Villalon / WWF-Philippines
Aside from exhibit set-ups on sustainable dining, Balay Kawayan will also be used as a tool to educate more diners on sustainable dining through campus tours and student engagement, as an in-house restaurant educational activity for the project’s partner establishments, as well as a conversation starter and an introductory material to sustainable consumption and production during presentations to potential corporate partners.
The Sustainable Diner project team hopes that through Balay Kawayan, learning about sustainable consumption and production in the Philippines can become easier and more fun, so more Filipinos can practice sustainable dining whenever they eat out.
Pam Luber, the project’s Integrated Marketing Communications Specialist and co-lead of WWF-Philippines’ participation in IFEX 2018, explains The Sustainable Diner to an exhibit visitor. © Gabriel Villalon / WWF-Philippines
An exhibit visitor rating Balay Kawayan’s effectivity after playing the entire game. © Gabriel Villalon / WWF-Philippines
Special credit goes to the team from the Studio of Secret6, Inc. who worked on the development of this game: Martha Miranda (Producer), Zheanne Nicole Ibrahim (Game Designer), Patrick Alain Carlos (Technical Developer Lead), John Paul Mateo (Technical Developer), Hyacinth Lawas (2D Art Project Lead), Noel Quijada Jr. (2D Junior Artist), Arvin Pantollano (2D Senior Artist), Trina Laya (2D Junior Animator), Nichole Ronas (Sound Designer), Marco Rabat (Sound Design Intern), Catherine San Luis (QA/UX Analyst Junior Lead), Mark Kaizan Caballes (QA/UX Analyst), Ruichi Realista (QA/UX Analyst), and Abraham Jimenez (QA/UX Analyst)
The Sustainable Diner project, under WWF-Philippines’ Sustainable Consumption and Production, is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag.
