3 November 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in Bucharest hosted a merienda cena for the International Women’s Association Art and Culture Group on 26 October  2005 at the Ambassador’s residence. Mrs. Cecilia M. Cabrera hosted the function for the 35 ladies from the diplomatic corps, the expatriate community in Bucharest and the Romanian art and culture cognoscenti.

The program began with the opening remarks of Mrs. Lucia Ban, a prominent Romanian entrepreneur and IWA Event Coordinator, followed by the welcome remarks of Mrs. Cecilia M. Cabrera. Ambassador Noel C. Cabrera also welcomed the guests. After the welcome ceremonies, a showcase of Philippine national costumes were modeled no less than by the Mrs. Cecile Cabrera, her children and the staff of the Embassy.

The fashion show was followed by a rendition of the Filipino dance “tinikling” that resulted into audience participation from among the ladies of the diplomatic corps and the prominent art and culture circles in Romanian society.

There was also an exhibit of Filipino national costumes, handicrafts, paintings, books, and travel magazines and a video presentation courtesy of the Department of Tourism entitled “WOW Philippines, More than the Usual”.

According to Ambassador Cabrera, the well-attended social event was capped by a merienda cena with the guests “heartily savoring Philippine native dishes such as pansit, pork adobo, vegetable lumpia, biko, maha blanca, leche flan and fried rice”. END