First Philippine Food Festival in Chongqing, PROC
11 June 2019, Chongqing. The Philippine Consulate General in Chongqing conducted, as part of its celebration of the 121st anniversary of the Philippine Independence and its 10th anniversary of establishment in Chongqing, People’s Republic of China, the first ever Philippine food promotion in Chongqing.
The Philippine Food Promotion, otherwise known as the Philippine Food Week, was held from 06 to 12 June 2019 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Chongqing, in partnership with said hotel and with sponsorship from the Hanglv Group and Sichuan Shanghai Airlines Holiday Tours, as well as Oishi.
The Consulate featured Filipino celebrity chef, Ms. Michelle F. Adrillana, who previously had conducted similar activities in other countries, including Qatar, UAE, and Germany.
The major events of the Philippine Food Promotion were: (a) the Media Night; (b) the Opening Night; and (c) Philippine Food Cooking Lesson. Brief descriptions of and reports on which are as follows:
Media Night
On 05 June 2019, the Philippine Consulate General in Chongqing took part in the Media Night organized by Crowne Plaza Hotel in connection to the Consulate's Philippine Food Week beginning on 06 June 2019 and culminating on 12 June 2019. Consul General Crescente R. Relacion answered questions from the media regarding Philippine cuisine as well as other cultural programs the Philippine Consulate General plans to hold in the future. The event was warmly received and praised by the members of the media present in the event.
The event was featured in different forms of media, including online sites and a program in Chongqing TV.
The Philippine Food Week features Filipino Chef, Ms. Michelle F. Adrillana. This also coincides with the Consulate's celebration of the 121st Anniversary of Philippine Independence, 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Philippine Consulate General in Chongqing, and the Philippine Tourism and Culture Festival organized by the Philippine Tourism Office.
Opening Night
The Philippine Consulate General in Chongqing formally opened the Philippine Food Week in a cocktail reception held on 06 June 2019 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. During the opening ceremony, Ms. Sharon Fraser, General Manager of the Crowne Plaza, welcomed the audience and expressed her joy on the partnership with the Consulate in bringing the first-ever Philippine Food Festival to Chongqing. Mr. Tang Wen, the Deputy Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office, delivered his message and congratulated the Consulate on holding the Philippine food festival.
Consul General Crescente R. Relacion thanked all the sponsors who made the event possible and highlighted how Philippine cuisine is reflective of Philippine history and geography. He then introduced Guest Filipino Chef Michelle Adrillana who gave a background on Philippine cuisine, as well as how she hopes to introduce Philippine cuisine to the whole world.
The opening ceremony was attended by local officials, representatives of the different consulates general in Chongqing, and other distinguished guests.
Cooking Lesson
Consulate’s Cultural Officer, Ms. Emelyn M. Cosino, together with her spouse, Mr. Amin Mohseni, took part in the Philippine Food cooking class conducted by Guest Filipino Chef Michelle Adrillana on 11 June 2019 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The session was likewise attended by the media and some members of the International Women’s Group based in Chongqing.
The participants were taught how to cook and prepare lumpiang hubad, octopus adobo (instead of squid), and halo-halo. These were all served to the participants during their lunch which followed after the cooking lesson. Also served during lunch was tinolang manok.
The cooking class was one of the major programs of the Philippine Food Week, which aimed to make everyone familiar with Philippine cuisine and ingredients. END