PH Mission to ASEAN Showcases Noodle Dishes in Mini-Festival

Permanent Representative to ASEAN Elizabeth P. Buensuceso (sixth from left), ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi (seventh from left), and the Permanent Representatives of ASEAN lock hands. (ASEAN Foundation photo)

JAKARTA 25 March 2019 – To showcase the celebration of ASEAN’s unity amid diversity, the Philippine Permanent Mission to ASEAN held a mini-festival of ASEAN Noodle Dishes entitled “Sem Sem But No Sem”, held at its chancery on 18 March 2019.

Ambassadors of ASEAN member States and their spouses demonstrated how to prepare Brunei’s Brunei Soto, Cambodia’s Khmer Curry, Indonesia’s Bakmi Goreng Jawa, Lao’s Khao Piak Sen, Malaysia’s Char Kuey Teow, Myanmar’s Mohinga, the Philippines’ Pancit Palabok, Singapore’s Laksa, Thailand’s Tom Yum Goong and Vietnam’s Phở.

ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi and his spouse Datin Chan Chin Ming led the special guests during the event, consisting of Ambassadors of ASEAN Dialogue Partners, ASEAN Foundation Executive Director Elaine Tan, the ASEAN Women’s Circle, and members of the diplomatic corps, who had their fill of the delectable ASEAN noodle dishes.

Earlier in the morning, Permanent Representative to ASEAN Elizabeth P. Buensuceso hosted a cook show, where each Ambassador demonstrated the ingredients and preparations of their country’s favorite noodle dish.

She interviewed the chefs on the manner of preparation and presentation of the dishes, and the native as well as foreign influences of the dishes in the cultures of ASEAN member states.

The content produced from the event will be turned into a cooking video and a recipe book that is envisioned to promote ASEAN cuisine and raise awareness of ASEAN. The video and the publication will be distributed through the ASEAN Secretariat, the websites of the Permanent Missions of ASEAN, the capitals of countries where ASEAN Committees in Third Countries are situated, and via social media channels.

In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Buensuceso stated that she hoped the project would be “a legacy to future generations,” a tradition for the Permanent Missions of ASEAN, as well as ASEAN Committees in Third Countries to follow in order for them to create something tangible in promoting  ASEAN to a wider audience.

As a festival would not be complete without a sumptuous meal, an ASEAN-inspired lunch was also served by the Mission featuring the noodle dishes that the ten Permanent Representatives to ASEAN prepared for the event. END.

Permanent Representative to ASEAN Elizabeth P. Buensuceso with Ms. Doris Novicio (Philippines), who is cooking pancit palabok. (Jakarta PM photo)

Permanent Representative to ASEAN Elizabeth P. Buensuceso with Ambassador Hajah Kaslamati Binti Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Mohamad Kassim and her spouse Mr. Penigran Noor Azman. (Jakarta PM photo)

Permanent Representative to ASEAN Elizabeth P. Buensuceso with Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Shariffah Norhana Syed Mustaffa, who is demonstrating how to cook Char Kuey Tiao. (Jakarta PM photo)

For more information, visit http://www.jakartapm.dfa.gov.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionJakarta.