Vancouver, 04 May 2023 – The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, led by Consul General Arlene T. Magno, hosted the Ladies Consular Corps Luncheon on 04 May 2023 at the Consulate premises.
Eleven (11) female diplomats from Switzerland, Mexico, Norway, Japan, Thailand, Estonia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Morocco and Indonesia attended the luncheon.
In her remarks, Consul General Magno said that Filipino food, an interesting blend of indigenous, Spanish, Chinese, and American influences, is a reflection of Philippine history and culture, as well as an expression of the Filipino people's love for food and their passion for cooking.
The Consulate organized a cooking demonstration featuring a classic Filipino dish chicken adobo by Chef Helen Orimaco-Pumatong, who also prepared a welcome drink featuring Don Papa rum - a premium aged and single-island rum from the Philippines. Chef Helen is an instructor for the Restaurant Operations Course in the Hospitality Management Program at Vancouver Community College. She owns a catering business where she incorporates her classic French culinary training and authentic Filipino flavors.
Aside from adobo, the luncheon featured sinigang na hipon (Filipino sour soup), kalamansi mango salad, lumpiang sariwa (spring roll made with vegetable filling), chicken barbecue, kare-kare (oxtail in peanut stew), and turon (deep-fried banana with ripe jackfruit rolled in thin pastry skins) for dessert. The ladies thoroughly enjoyed the lunch that included a vegan option.
Tourism videos were shown throughout the lunch hours. Also put on display was a sampling of products from some of the Filipino-Canadian businesses in Vancouver. To spice up the program, the Consulate raffled off some beautiful items from Artsy Candle and Narda’s Handwoven Arts and Crafts at the end of the luncheon.
The event is part of the Consulate’s cultural and economic diplomacy efforts to bring to the global stage the wide variety of Filipino cuisine and tourist attractions making the Philippines a prime destination for travelers. END
