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PHL EMBASSY REPRESENTATIVES MEET WITH TOP LOCAL OFFICIALS, FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN MAE HONG SON PROVINCE, THAILAND

26 November 2014 – Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia and other Embassy officials on November 10 called on Governor Surapol Panusampol of the province of Mae Hong Son in Northwestern Thailand. Ambassador Batoon-Garcia and the Governor discussed the Filipino community’s contributions to Mae Hong Son. They also exchanged ideas on how to promote greater economic interaction between the province and the Philippines, especially with the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

Ambassador Batoon-Garcia took the opportunity to introduce incoming Philippine Honorary Consul, Mr. Agkarajit Phanomvan Na Ayudhya, to the Governor and other local officials.

After the call on the provincial government officials, Ambassador Batoon-Garcia met with members of the Filipino community in Mae Hong Son. She likewise introduced Consul Agkarajit to the Filipinos there, noting that the latter will be based in the province of Chiang Mai, with concurrent jurisdiction over the provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phayao, Phrae, and Uttaradit.

The Embassy consular team, whose members included Vice Consul Jay Francis Alcantara, Rowena Tolosa, Erlito Bayaga, Pilar Binuya and Michelle Espiritu, rendered passport, notarial, and other consular services to the Filipino community. Vice Consul Alcantara gave a briefing on various issues and listened to some of the Filipinos’ experiences and concerns as expatriates in Mae Hong Son. 

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FILIPINO CHEF PLACES 2^ND IN SOUTH KOREAN COOKING COMPETITION

This event was sponsored by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), MBC and North Jeolla Province, whose capital Jeonju is considered the center of Korean cuisine, with the aim of introducing Korean food to the international stage and to encourage more people to be interested and to love Korean traditional dishes.

“I wish to congratulate Mr. Tee for winning the second prize of this contest organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Cultural Bureau to promote Korean cuisine to the whole world,” said Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez. “Korean cuisine is so good, it’s not difficult to promote it. In fact, it’s already becoming the next big thing in the Korean wave of culture.”

The final round of competition was also attended by North Jeolla Province Governor Song Ha Jin, MOFA Cultural Affairs Bureau Director General Kim Dong-gi, MBC Vice President Kwon Jae Hong and other members of the diplomatic corps.

The preliminary round for the Philippines gathered 28 professional and amateur chefs to show off Korean dishes cooked in traditional or fusion style on June 27 at the Culinary Institute of Lyceum of the Philippines University in the walled city of Intramuros in old Manila.

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FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG PERFORMS IN ETHNIC CULTURAL PROGRAM

24 November 2014 - A Filipino organization in Hong Kong SAR performed at the Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances 2014, organized by the Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department on November 16 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza.  Aside from the Philippines, the event was participated in by eleven other countries, namely, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The Mindanao Workers’ Federation, a Filipino community organization accredited with the Philippine Consulate General, performed indigenous dances from Southern Philippines and put up a booth showcasing Philippine musical instruments and handicrafts.

Filipino conductor and soprano  Agnes Quilicot also led the Young Men’s Catholic Association (YMCA) of Hong Kong Christian College Choir in their rendition of “Rosas Pandan,” a Filipino folk song.  The YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College Choir is composed of Filipino, Australian, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Nepalese and Sri Lankan students.

Initiated in 2010, the Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances aims to promote cultural exchange by showcasing traditional ethnic music and dance performances by Asians residing in Hong Kong.