PH Embassy in the Hague Hosts Independence Day Reception with Philippine Cuisine and Music

PH Embassy in the Hague Hosts Independence Day Reception with Philippine Cuisine and Music

TheHague062001

(From left) Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Department of Asia and Oceania Head Max Valstar, Permanent Court of Arbitration’s Marcin Czepelak, Ambassador J Eduardo Malaya, Mme. Rena Cristina Koa-Malaya, M.D., MFA Protocol and Host Country Affairs Director Dominique Kuhling and Hague Conference on Private International Law Secretary General Christophe Bernasconi (The Hague PE photo)

THE HAGUE 20 June 2023 - The richness of Philippine cuisine and music took center stage at a garden reception hosted by the Philippine Embassy in The Hague on 15 June in commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the proclamation of the Philippine independence.

The event, which was held at the Embassy’s newly landscaped Rizal Courtyard, was blessed with good weather and well appreciated by some 150 members of the diplomatic corps, senior officials of the Netherlands Government and other guests, especially as it featured iconic Filipino dishes prepared by Manila-based Chefs Rolando and Jacqueline Laudico as well as music by cellist Mikko Pablo.

In his welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya highlighted the significance of the occasion which etched the Philippines’ place in history as the earliest modern democracy and republic in Asia. “The proclamation of Philippine independence from Spanish colonial rule 125 years ago fostered a national consciousness among the people across the Philippine archipelago, and for a shining three-year period, gave birth to Asia’s first republic,” Malaya said.

Among the guests were the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Protocol and Host Country Affairs Director Dominique Kuhling, Permanent Court of Arbitration Secretary General Dr. Marcin Piotr Czepelak, Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) Secretary General Dr. Christophe Bernasconi and MFA Department of Asia and Oceania Head Max Valstar. They joined Ambassador Malaya and Madame Rena Cristina Koa-Malaya, M.D., in the cake-cutting ceremony.

MFA’s Max Valstar tweeted after the event, “Congratulations Ambassador @malaya_ed @PHinTheHague on the 125th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence. Honoured and happy to cut the cake together. Mabuhay!”

Ambassador Malaya took the occasion to also thank the Embassy’s partners for their support and cooperation in the Embassy’s proactive diplomatic activities in the past two and a half years, especially the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Permanent Court of Arbitration, Hague Conference on Private International Law, and other diplomatic missions and international organizations based in the Hague.

The dishes that were prepared by the Chefs Laudico highlighted the rich flavors of Filipino cuisine, notably “gambas” (butter garlic shrimp flambe with Emperador Brandy), “kilawin” (fresh tuna in spicy ginger coconut cream),” “lumpia” (pork fried spring rolls in pineapple sweet and sour sauce), “inasal” (grilled chicken in coco vinegar and lemongrass glazed with achuete butter), “suman” (rice cake layered with coconut panna cotta topped with Philippine mangoes), and “leche flan” (egg custard crème caramel brulee).

Considered as the Philippines “power culinary couple,”the chefs Laudico operate several sought-after food establishments in the Philippines and are known for their innovative approaches to preparing, cooking, and serving Filipino food. They have traveled extensively around the world to introduce Filipino food to various audiences. Chef Lau was one of the judges in the Philippine edition of the global hit cooking shows "MasterChef" and "Junior MasterChef" and the Asian Food Channel's "The Amazing Food Challenge,” while Chef Jac is one of the country's internationally awarded pastry chefs and chocolatiers.

The reception also featured musical performances by Belgium-based Filipino cellist Mikko Pablo who played his soulful arrangement of “Pilipinas kong Mahal” (My Beloved Philippines), among other songs. He was accompanied on guitar by Ms. Ana Santisteban. Mr. Pablo has studied with renowned musicians such as Bongshin Ko and Daniel Rothmuller of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and completed studies with Justus Grimm at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp in Belgium.

The Embassy hosted an Independence Day reception for the members of the Filipino community two weeks earlier, on June 03, which was attended by some 250 guests.

Capping the performances were lively renditions of Filipino and Western pop music by Filipino singers Ms. Jemarie de Villa and Ms. Cristina Barabat, who brought attendees dancing as the reception lingered into a balmy summer night. END

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