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 16^th 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.

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.

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

• 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.

In the same year, President Aquino issued Executive Order No. 498 institutionalizing the Awards naming it the Presidential Awardsfor Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas. The Executive Order specifically designated the CFO to develop an awards system for Filipino individuals and organizations overseas who have contributed, in the form of selfless programs and endeavors, to our country’s relief, rehabilitation and development programs.

Since its inception, the awards have so far been extended to 338 Filipino individuals and organizations from 44 countries. President Fidel V. Ramos conferred the first and second sets of Presidential Awards to 22 and 45 awardees in 1993 and 1996, respectively. President Joseph E. Estrada conferred the third and fourth sets of Presidential Awards to 30 and 59 awardees in 1998 and 2000, respectively. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo conferred the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth sets of Presidential Awards to 34 (with one special citation), 45, 48, and 31 awardees, in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008, respectively. President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the last set of Presidential Awards to 24 awardees in 2010.

The Presidential Awards honors distinguished Filipino individuals and organizations overseas, who by their exceptional achievements or humanitarian efforts, have given form and substance to Filipino excellence and the time – honored values of pakikipag -kapwa, pagtutulungan, and pagkakaisa. The awardees include exemplars of Filipino excellence, individuals who have dedicated their work in the service of the Filipino people, stewards of community initiatives that promote cooperation for the common good, and advocates for the promotion and protection of the rights of others. Civil society organizations based overseas, whose programs for intervention have helped improve the lives of others, particularly the marginalized, will also be honored in observance of the timeless tradition of pakikipagkapwa-tao and bayanihan.

The awards shall be open to Filipino individuals, associations (both formal and informal), communities overseas, as well as foreign private individuals and organizations abroad.

Any individual or organization, whether Filipino or foreign, based in the Philippines or overseas may submit nominations for the awards. Nominations can be submitted through the Philippine Embassy, directly to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, or online through www.cfo.gov.ph. The awards may be given posthumously.

All nominations submitted through mail or online must be received by the CFO on or before 15 June 2012. Non-submission of the required complete documents may be a cause for disqualification of the nominee from the awards. The Awards Ceremonies will be held in December 2012 at the Malacañan Palace, Manila.

More information on the awards and nomination procedures can be accessed at http://www.2012presidentialawards.cfo.gov.ph/.

Here.

This year’s ASEAN Tourism Forum at Manado, Indonesia witnessed the new Philippine brand launch with the line – ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines.’

“ATF 2012 is a perfect platform to introduce to some 1,600 international delegates composed of buyers and sellers, the NTO community and media delegates,” Philippine Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. said.

Focusing on the country’s core strength, the campaign singles out what no other destination can offer – and that is the Filipino people.  The Lonely Planet guidebook calls Filipinos ‘among the most easygoing and ebullient people anywhere.’  Meanwhile, a constant truth that comes out in the passenger exit surveys is the “warmth and hospitality of the people.”

“Our strategy is simple: while other countries invite you to observe, Filipinos can promise a more heartfelt and interesting experience. Wherever you go, whatever you do in the country, it’s the Filipinos that will complete your vacation and will make your holiday unforgettable,” says the new tourism chief, who accepted the post in September 2011.

The Filipinos are already known around the world to be one of the happiest and warmest people on earth. In a survey conducted among expatriates by international bank HSBC, it was revealed that the Philippines is the 8^th friendliest country for them.

The campaign hopes to enjoin the whole country in creating positive buzz of the tagline.  The campaign was trending on Twitter Friday noon when it was earlier introduced to local media.  Catching like wild fire, netizens flooded the web with creative ways to interpret the line through do-it-yourself-memes which could likely land on shirts, billboards, stickers and other collaterals.

Meanwhile, the ‘#1FORFUN’ local slogan aims to rally the Filipino nation to strengthen and sustain this well-appreciated fun character and be a “constant reminder to make sure people’s experiences in our country are positive, enjoyable, and most of all, fun,” Jimenez added.

The presentation was well-received during the Philippine-hosted dinner on 13 January 2012 at the Sultanraja Hotel.  The occasion was graced by North Sulawesi Governor Sinyo Harry Sarundajang, Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Maria Rosario Claudio Aguinaldo  and Consul General Jose Burgos.

Exciting travel prizes were raffled off from generous sponsors Philippine Airlines and various hotels and tour operators.  The high spirits continued until curtain fall with participants dancing to band music and cheering the world-class performances by top Filipino artists.

Philippines registered very healthy growth in number of visitors from around the globe. From January to November 2011, visitor arrivals reached a total of 3, 522, 887 surpassing the 2010 year-end arrivals of 3, 520, 471.This feat recorded an increase of 12.66% over its previous year’s volume of 3,126,886 covering the same months. The biggest arrivals were registered in July with a volume of 360,784 visitors while the month of November recorded the highest growth of 19.80%.

During the same period, visitors from the Middle East Region posted very good increase of 19.35% compared to the same period last year. The region’s top visitors were from Saudi Arabia (+28%), UAE (+11%) and Kuwait (+18%), which all registered positive gains.

Read in Arabic

1.  Operations in the areas affected by Typhoon Sendong are in the early recovery stage. Priority needs are tents, blankets, folding beds, temporary shelters, cooking utensils, GI sheets, generators and school supplies for children.
2. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) of the NDRRMC is the focal point for the logistical requirements for the transport of humanitarian supplies coursed through government agencies while the World Food Program (WFP) handles the international organizations and non-government organizations
3. Dragoslav Djuraskovic (Manila), Djuraskovic@wfp.org, +63917 829-3175
   Anna Young (Cagayan de Oro), anna.young@wfp.org, +63971 880-9371
   UN World Food Program-Philippines, 5/F GC Corporate Plaza, 150 Legazpi St
   Legaspi Village, Makati City 1229 Philippines, +632 750-2561 or 751-9166 loc 2300 Fax 750-2562
4. While donations of used clothing consigned to the DSWD are accepted, it is still discouraged. Cash donations are encouraged.
5. Donations not covered by diplomatic notes/ bilateral agreements will have to pass through the One-Stop Shop for clearance in Cagayan de Oro head by the Bureau of Customs with the DSWD as the primary consignee. A similar Desk will be installed in Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) this week.
6. The Department of Health (DOH) encourages donations in cash instead of medicines. DOH shall advise if there is a need for medical missions.
   

The Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines wishes to thank the Filipino Community in Dubai and N. Emirates for all the efforts to provide succor and relief to the victims of Typhoon Sendong.

6 January 2012 – Officials of the Consulate General of the Philippines and POLO-OWWA Dubai, led by Consul General Benito Valeriano and labor Attache Amilbahar Amilasan, joined the “Hakbang Buhay 2012 – Walk for Life – Sendong (Washi) Victims” at Al Safa Park, Dubai. The event was organized by the Dubai Philippine Business Council headed by Chairperson Lucille Ong in cooperation with UAE Red Crescent, Islamic Affairs for Charitable Activities Department, various institutions, business groups, and Filipino organizations. Those in attendance donated AED50 which will be sent to the Philippine Red Cross. Consul General Valeriano led the walk around the park.

More news here.