Page 30 - 2017 JAN-JUN - KAAKBAY

30 January to June
2017

Filipino Cuisine Highlighted at Society of Foreign Consuls New York International Food Festival

In an event featuring authentic national food and cultural
performances from 24 Consulates General in New York, Consul
Felipe Carino III and Cultural Officer Olive Magpile led the Consulate
General and Filipino cultural performers who participated in the
Society of Foreign Consuls in New York (SOFC) International Food
Festival. The event was held at the Consulate General of India on 9
February 2017.

Each participating Consulate General brought their country’s
famous hors d’oeuvres and beverages or offered cultural
performances to the delight of the attendees. Participation was high at
Consul Felipe Carino III (2 from right) joins twenty-four Consuls the event despite a snow storm that hit New York City and the US
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General who attended the Society of Foreign Consuls International Northeast on the same day.
Food Festival held at Gandhi Hall, Consulate General of India .
The Consulate General shared home-cooked “kutsinta” and
“empanada” as well as calamansi juice, which were enjoyed by guests from various Consulates General particularly the
Consuls General of Columbia, Thailand, India, Kosovo and Estonia. The calamansi juice was a crowd favorite during the
Festival.

The Philippines was among five Consulates General including Algeria,
India, Kosoco, and Paraguay which rendered cultural/ traditional dance
performances. The Foundation of the Filipino Artists Dance Ensemble, a group
based in Staten Island, performed the “Kuratsa”, an indigenized form of “La
Curacha, a courtship dance introduced by Mexican traders to Filipinos during the
Galleon Trade period, which evolved in different versions among the Warays in
Eastern Visayas region.

Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega underscored that the Consulate
General’s participation this year would highlight the taste and traditional folk dance
of the Philippines. The International Food Festival is a flagship project of the Consul Felipe F. Carino III welcomes Consul General
SOFC that counts 113 New York-based Consulates General as members with an Maria Isabel Nieto of Columbia, current President of
Executive Committee representing different regional groups. The Philippines Society of Foreign Consuls New York, and Consul
represents the East Asia and Western Pacific Region in the SOFC Executive General Riva Ganguly Das of India at the Philippine
Committee. table during SOFC event.

Consul General Dizon-de Vega Calls on Consul General Dizon-De Vega Meets with Chinese
Thai Counterpart to Discuss ASEAN@50 Counterpart in New York

Consul General Theresa Dizon- Philippine Consul General
de Vega met with her Thai counterpart, Theresa Dizon-De Vega met with her
Consul General Pornpong Kanittanon to Chinese counterpart Consul General
discuss ASEAN activities in 2017 as the Zhang Qiyue today in New York.
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regional organization marks its 50 year. The meeting provided an opportunity

The two Consuls General spoke for Consul General Dizon-De Vega to
about possible events covering the three introduce herself to Consul General
main pillars of ASEAN: Political-Security, Zhang early on in her tenure as
Economic, and Socio-Cultural. Consul General and is also part of the
efforts of the Philippine Consulate General to establish
Consuls General De Vega and Kittanon discussed the closer linkages with other Consulates and in particular with
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importance of holding a commemorative event for the 50 ASEAN member states and ASEAN Dialogue Partners.
anniversary of ASEAN, noting the high visibility of New York
and its importance as an information hub for political, economic, Consul General Dizon-De Vega informed Consul
and cultural issues not only for US but also for global General Zhang about the successful launch of the
audiences. Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship on January 15 in Davao
City led by President Duterte.
Aside from the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship this
year, the Consuls General also exchanged views on the state of Consul General Zhang previously served as
bilateral relations of the Philippines and Thailand as well as China’s Ambassador to Belgium and Indonesia and as
Spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
common concerns of the two Consulates in New York.