28 November 2014 – Philippine Consul General Wilfredo R. Cuyugan and Mr. Eddie Wong, Vice General Manager of Renaissance Yangtze Hotel Co., Ltd. formally opened on November 18 the Philippine Food Exhibit “Pagkain” by leading the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the lobby of Renaissance Shanghai Yangtze Hotel before an estimated 200 guests from the consular corps and business community.  Joining them at the opening were Mr. Juergen Sterkau, GM of Renaissance Shanghai Yangtze Hotel; Mr. Neal Oshima, photographer; Ms. Armita Rufino, President, Filipino Heritage Festivals Inc.; and Ms. Michaela Fenix, Editor.

As a prelude to the weeklong Philippine food festival, Pagkain showcased the Filipino food and its sources of influences through seven stations – pre-historic Filipino habits, Impluwensya, Linamnam, Pangasim, Sawsawan, Kanin to Merienda.

Ms. Fenix, food writer and editor of the book “Kulinarya”, where the exhibit was sourced from, provided a brief history of Philippine food, its varieties and influences from different countries and cultures.

Filipino Heritage Festivals Inc. (FHFI), Asia Society of the Philippines, National Commission for the Culture and Arts (NCCA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) sponsored the exhibit.END