DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                             2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                        Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-400-07                                                                                                                                                           30 May 2007

Philippine Embassy, Ottawa launches Philippine Food Festival

Ambassador Jose S. Brillantes (2nd L) poses beside the works of the Philippine Artists Group that are on exhibit throughout the Philippine Food Festival at Westin Ottawa.  With the Ambassador are Mr. Frazer Berry (1st L), Westin executive, Minister and Consul General Joseph Gerard B. Angeles (3rd L), Second Secretary and Consul Rhenita B. Rodriguez (4th L), Ms. Elizabeth A. Alberto (5th L), Cultural Officer, and Mr. Romeo M. Merjudio (6th L), Protocol Officer.

30 May 2007 — Philippine Ambassador to Canada Jose S. Brillantes reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Embassy launched on 28 May 2007 a two-week festival of Filipino food entitled “A Taste of the Philippines ” at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa to commence the Embassy’s celebration of the 109th Anniversary of Philippine Independence.  

In the Ambassador’s invitation to the diplomatic corps and members of the Filipino-Canadian community to sample and savor Filipino food, Ambassador Brillantes said, “This signature event celebrates the flavors of the Philippines while underscoring the importance of food as an integral part of Philippine culture.  Moreover, ‘A Taste of the Philippines ’ will affirm the fact that the Philippines is a food-loving nation.”  

Billed by the festival as “body and soul food, “the flavors of the Philippines are prominently featured in Westin Ottawa’s lunch buffet and table d’hôte offerings.  Included in the feast of delectable delights during the festival are arroz caldo (ginger-scented chicken and rice soup) and lumpiang basa (duck confit and lettuce spring rolls) as appetizers, adobo (seared pork tenderloin medallions), pancit (jumbo shrimp with glass noodles) and bulalo (beef shank with Napa cabbage and ginger-spiked broth) as entrées, and turon (fried banana and jackfruit fritters) and leche flan (lemongrass-spiked crème caramel with molasses) as desserts.    

The Philippine food festival will run from 28 May and culminates with a gala night on 12 June 2007 that will showcase Philippine songs and art as well.  Works of the Philippine Artists Group based in Toronto are on exhibit throughout the festival, and a round-trip ticket to the Philippines courtesy of Handa Travel will be raffled off during the gala night, which will also feature the music of the Himig Pilipino Choral Ensemble.  END

 

 

/jay

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