BAGUIO CITY — The 17th Hotel and Restaurant Tourism (HRT) Weekend will feature a massive fried rice event, with enough servings for 16,000 people, set to kick off the festivities in October at SM City Baguio.

According to Philippines News Agency, the event will commence on October 3, with participation from eight establishments preparing different versions of fried rice. HRAB president and Baguio Country Club (BCC) general manager Anthony de Leon stated that this initiative, dubbed "Rice and Shine," is a private sector-led effort to promote tourism. Dino Florendo, BCC’s executive chef, confirmed that approximately 3.5 cavans of long grain rice will be used. The event also serves as a platform for students in tourism-related courses to gain hands-on experience, with some participants eventually securing employment in the industry.