Lao Culture, ASEAN Cuisine Take Center Stage at Commemoration of 57th Founding Anniversary of ASEAN
MANILA 29 August 2024 - In celebration of the 57th founding anniversary of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the members of the ASEAN Ladies Foundation, Inc. (ALF) led by its ALF Chairperson, Mme. Pamela Louise Manalo, organized an ASEAN Potluck Lunch on 20 August 2024 at the Lao Official Residence. Graciously hosted by Lao Ambassador to the Philippines Sonexay Vannaxay and his spouse, ALF President Mme. Bouavone Souksavan, the luncheon brought even more meaning and significance to Laos’ holding of this year’s ASEAN chairmanship.
A core part of the ALF’s mission is fostering meaningful people-to-people interaction to strengthen the bonds among the ASEAN Member States by providing a platform for its members to promote and highlight their cultural heritage. One of the highlights of the event was the introduction of the Lao traditional dress called, “Xout Lao”. The Ladies were delighted to see and learn how the “xout” is worn. The intricate and colorful silk cloth is usually reserved for formal or religious occasions. The men usually wear a hip-length tailored jacket, known as a nehru jacket which is made of white silk while the women coil their hair and wear a “sinh” (skirt), a “suea pat” (blouse) and“pha biang” (scarf).
Shortly after the national dress presentation, Mme. Souksavanh demonstrated how to make the Lao national dish called Laap Gai. It is a meat salad served along with sticky rice. Laap, in the Lao language, refers to meat or other type of protein that has been finely chopped and pounded. Aside from the Laap, guests were able to partake of generous offerings of a variety of ASEAN dishes brought to the said potluck gathering.
Each ASEAN dish emphasized the diversity and uniqueness of ASEAN cuisine. The ALF members had the opportunity to enjoy and taste this melting pot of spices, colors, aroma, and flavors through the sumptuous luncheon spread, which included refreshing salad of Lao Larb, the spring rolls from Viet Nam, the hearty Mote Hin Gar (Fish soup Noodle) from Myanmar, the savory beef curry from Brunei Darussalam, the rice dishes, “Nasi Goreng” from Singapore and “Nasi Lemak” from Malaysia. Indonesia brought with them colorful and sweet kue ku (rice cake), and “sosis solo” a savory pastry filled with minced chicken meat, then fried after being coated with beaten egg. For dessert, the ladies enjoyed the assortment of rice cakes from Thailand, while the Philippines brought its highly popular sorbetes, commonly known as “dirty ice cream” to everyone’s delight.
Indeed, food is a universal language that has the power to connect people from different backgrounds, promote understanding and empathy, and help us build bridges across cultural divides. Just as each ASEAN cuisine establishes its unique identity, it also connects the region as one community perfectly representing ASEAN’s guiding principle of "One Vision, One Identity, One Community". END
