Philippine ambassador to Lebanon, Bernardita L. Catalla, hosted a lunch meeting on 9 November serving Filipino food for fellow lady envoys accredited to Lebanon.

The activity is part of the Embassy’s cultural promotion initiative which aims to introduce Filipino culture, particularly Filipino cuisine, to both Lebanese and international communities. Earlier, in April, the ambassador hosted Filipino dinner for her counterparts from Asia and their spouses (China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia).

Majority of the guests tasted Filipino food for the first time. Seeing the buffet spread, the envoys expressed curiosity and delight over the variety of dishes. The verdict: Filipino food is varied and delicious. The lunch featured popular Filipino dishes such as molo soup, beef kaldereta, lechon kawali, rellenong isda, stuffed squid, eggplant salad, lumpiang sariwa, and dynamite shrimp roll. Buko-pandan was served as dessert, and Filipino mango rum, dalandan liqueur and kapeng barako, for drinks.

Ambassador Catalla also gave each guest a box of dried mangoes from the Philippines.

The lunch also provided an excellent opportunity for the lady envoys to share information and exchange views on environmental concerns and challenges confronting Lebanon. Hon. Samar Malek, acting head of Environment Technology of the Ministry of Environment and UNFCCC Focal Point of Lebanon, gave a briefing on Lebanon’s challenges and achievements in waste management, air quality and protection of the environment.  

Attendees include the Head of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon, Hon. Samar Malek of the Ministry of Environment and ambassadors of Canada, USA, Finland, Colombia, Denmark, Cyprus, Philippines, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Chile, and Sri Lanka, and deputy chief of mission of Uruguay.

END