Philippine Food: Giving the World Appetizing Textures and Flavors
To say that Filipino food is delicious is an understatement. With the Philippines as a melting pot of various cultures, the different flavor influences infused into Filipino fare will always have something delectable to offer even to those with discriminating taste.
“Through Philippine exports and the Overseas Filipino Workers who have brought a taste of home to different parts of the globe, the world has been savoring Filipino food for years. Even the Philippines’ tropical food offerings such as Bananas, Mangoes, and Pineapples have made their way to the international market and are now considered the country’s top dollar earners,” says Rosvi Gaetos, Executive Director of Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM).
In addition to Philippine food exports that are now available internationally, some of the imported food people consume may actually have a bit of Filipino touch in it. Other than the usual dried mangoes and nata de coco that are seen on a number of grocery shelves abroad, the Philippines has been exporting other food items as ingredients or raw materials that give flavor or texture to food products like baby food or decadent masterpieces like pastries. But even with this contribution to the world food market, Philippine food exports barely make a mark. It inputs less than one percent to the total world food exports. Thus, the quest to offer delicious Philippine treasures to different markets continues.
The influx of Filipino food in the international market has become a journey for different food Philippine manufacturers as well. Through the assistance of CITEM, food companies get to join international food exhibitions and selling missions where they learn more about the ins and outs of international food markets. At international food fairs, they meet international buyers and learn about global standards that can make their products more competitive worldwide.
“Aside from our efforts to take part in international food fairs, Philippine food gets the much needed boost from our commercial attaches in our trade posts abroad who help organize projects that aid in sustaining the international markets’ interest in Philippine food products,” adds Gaetos.
CITEM, an attached agency of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, is mandated to market and promote the Philippines as a reliable source of quality export products and services in the global market through trade fairs and missions and other export promotional programs.
One of the international food shows in which the Philippines actively participates is the Gulf Food Hotel and Equipment Exhibition and Salon Culinaire (Gulfood), which is the biggest food industry event in the Middle East and the South African region.
Taking center stage as the Philippines’ best sellers during the event are fresh tropical fruits like Mangoes, Pineapples (Queen variety), and Cavendish Bananas; dried and dehydrated fruits like Mangoes, Pineapples, Papayas, Coconuts, and Pineapple, mixed nuts, Banana chips, and desiccated Coconut; fresh frozen and value-added seafood products; Philippine ethnic sauces; and frozen and sweetened fruit juices and purees.
Seeing how productive the participation was in Gulfood 2011 after generating sales of US$ 37.22M, the Philippine contingent of 20 exhibitor-companies and five institutional exhibitors are now getting ready for the 16th edition of Gulfood in February, with a goal of further promoting Philippine food exports in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and neighboring African region.
Philippine exhibitors that will participate in the international food show include Agrinurture, Inc., Amley Food Corporation, Atma International Corp., Brandexports Philippines, Inc., FCG Trading Philippines, Inc., Fruits Of Life, Inc., Gemfoods International, Inc., Kwality Philfood, Inc., Marigold Manufacturing Corportation, Market Reach International Resources Corp., Marikina Food Corporation, Martson’s Food Corporation, Mega Fishing Corporation, Oceanic Exports (Manila) Inc., Philippine Grocers Food Exports, Inc., Pixcel Transglobal Foods (Florence Foods), Q-Phil Products International, TBN Food Products (Global 88), Trans-Ocean Food Products, Inc., and Universal Canning, Inc.
Philippine food will also be seen at different international food fairs such as Foodex Japan and SIAL Paris, and in selling missions to various countries. Manufacturer-exhibitors participate in these food shows through the assistance of CITEM, an attached agency of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Agriculture-Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS).
Companies interested to join the Philippine contingent to GULFOOD 2012 or any of the upcoming international food events may visit www.ifexphilippines.com/gulfood2012, or email agrimarine@citem.com.ph, agrimarine@gmail.com.
PCG Co-Sponsors Symposium on Values, Realities
The Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines in cooperation with the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department held a Symposium entitled Be A Cause: Recapturing the Cultural and Historical Values of the Past and Promoting them in the Future last 10 February 2012 at the Al Safa Gymnasium.
Dr. Omar Mohammed Al Khateeb, Assistant Director General for Islamic Affairs, opened the whole day activity. The event highlighted the importance of knowing the cultural differences between the host country and the Philippines. It aimed to shed light on the common misperceptions as well as provide explanation on something that is perceived to be different.
No less than the grand mufti Dr. Mohammed Ayada Al Khobaisi lectured on the do’s and don’ts of the host country, the laws and traditions of UAE, as well as the obligations and expectations from the Filipino workers/ expatriates. His lecture also touched on the morality that must be observed by men and women, the appropriate behavior of couples in public spaces, and good manners and right conduct in general. He also emphasized that there is nothing extraordinary in what is generally observed in the UAE and that most of these are plain common sense.
Fr. Tom Veneracion lectured in the same vein when he took the floor to elaborate on issues surrounding life away from home, the responsibilities of families left in the Philippines, and a person’s moral and spiritual responsibilities. Fr. Veneracion even provided a glimpse on how he eventually ended up as a priest to the delight of the audience.
Consul General Benito Valeriano talked on the role of the Philippine Foreign Service and the Filipino workers. Vice Consul Edwin Gil Mendoza provided the much needed information on PH-UAE economic relations while Vice Consul Geronimo Suliguin explained the services of the Post (ATN and Consular) and provided a primer on what it is to be a Foreign Service Officer.
Aside from viewing the film Jose Rizal, participants and students of The Philippine School (TPS) also held a group dynamics and workshop on how to becoe part of the advocacy as a family member, a student, member of the society, and a child of an expatriate. In the end, a covenant was signed by the youth promote and protect the image of a Filipino woman.
The event served as an eye-opener especially with the prevalent cases challenging the moral standard of many expatriates living away from their families.
Balagtasan, traditional Filipino dances, and rendition of Filipino songs delighted the audience in between lectures.
FilCom Celebrates Fiesta in Dubai
27 January 2012 – The officers and staff of the Consulate General of the Philippines attended the Bayanihan Festival sponsored by Filipino Community Dubai-NE held at Zabeel Park today.
Dubbed Fiesta in Dubai, the event was filled presentations from various clubs, palarong Pinoy, original Filipino Music (OPM), raffle draws, and more. The highlight of the activity was the appearance of singer Rachelle Ann Go.
The message of the Consul General follows:
Sa mga minamahal kong kababayan!
Ako ay kasama ninyong nagagalak sa pagdiriwang na ito ng Bayanihan Festival na may temang Fiesta in Dubai. Angkop na angkop ang gawain at temang ito sa ating mga Filipino na kilala sa damdaming bayanihan at pagsasaya sa panahon ng mga pista.
Ang damdaming bayanihan ay muli at muli nating ipinakikita at namamalas lalo at higit sa mga panahon ng pangangailangan. Naipakita natin ito sa panahon ng repatriation ng mga Filipino mula sa Libya. Malaki ang naging pananagutan na ginampanan ng ating Konsulada lalo na sa pagsundo sa Libya at pagsalubong, pagkuha ng tiket, pag-aasikaso habang at hanggang sa makaalis ang mga Pilipino sa Terminals 1 at 2. Dito sa Dubai natin sila dinala bago tuluyang makauwi sa kanilang mga minamahal sa Pilipinas. Pinamunuan ito ni DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario kasama ang mga kawani sa DFA at OUMWA. Muli ipinakita natin ito bilang pagtugon sa hamon ni Sendong. Sama-sama tayong humakbang para sa buhay ilang araw na ang nakararaan at patuloy pa rin tayo, sa pangunguna ng Philippine Business Council at suporta mula sa FilCom Dubai-NE, sa pangangalap at pagtanggap ng tulong para sa mga kababayan nating nasalanta.
Ang pagdiriwang naman ng pista ay taal na sa ating mga Pilipino sapagkat tayo ay natural na masayahin at tumitingin sa positibong aspeto ng buhay sa kabila ng mga suliranin. Umaasa ako na ang mga inihandang palabas, mga local talents at celebrities na mula pa sa atin at pumunta rito upang magbigay kasiyahan, kasama ang marami pang maging surpresa ay sasapat sa hinahanap nating pista. Masasabi ring bahagi ng pista ang paglipat ng Konsuladang Panlahat at POLO-OWWA sa isang compound. Bukod sa mas malaki at mas maganda ang bago nating lugar para sa higit na dumaraming Pilipino, mas mabilis na rin ang serbisyo sa tulong ng ating bagong website na patuloy na pinag-iibayo ang applications para higit na matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng mga Pilipino. Kasama rin sa dapat ipagsaya ang pagkapanalo ng isa nating kasama dito sa Dubai, si Sister Wafa, bilang isa sa Bagong Bayani noong nakaraang taon.
Binabati ko ang mga opisyal at kasapi ng FIlCom Dubai-NE sa pangunguna sa gawaing ito.
Lubos akong umaasa na patuloy tayong magtutulungan, ako kasama ang buong Konsuladang Panlahat at tayong lahat na bahagi ng Filipino Coomunity sa Dubai at N. Emirates, sa pagpapamalas at pagsasabuhay ng totoo, mabuti, at maganda sa mga Pilipino!
Marami pong salamat!
Benito B. Valeriano, Consul General
Info on Earthquake in Negros Oriental
For the information of the public, the latest reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on the earthquake which hit Negros Oriental last 6 February follows:
- Casualties: 22 DEAD, 52 INJURED, 71 missing as of 8 February.
- Damages reported: buildings, roads, and bridges.
- No tsunami occurred.
- Aftershocks are expected.
- City of Guihulngan hardest hit and is in need of food, drinking water and tents. Being addressed locally.
For additional information, please visit the NDRRMC website.