GOVPH

“FILIPINAS FOOD FESTIVAL” NEW DELHI DRAWS HUGE THRONG TO DELIGHTS OF PHILIPPINE CUISINE

Fiesta atmosphere at Embassy grounds as guests enjoy Filipino fare. (Inset) Ambassador Ignacio, Third Secretary Mark Anthony Articulo, Chef Cabrera with guests and influencers at centerstage.

New Delhi, 19 April – Philippine cuisine was a big winner in New Delhi on 19 April, as the Philippine Embassy’s Filipinas Food Festival filled the hearts -- and tummies – of hundreds of guests eager to dive into a Filipino culinary experience.

All roads led to the Embassy grounds in Chanakyapuri as gastronomes and cultural enthusiasts alike feasted on a cornucopia of flavors that define the Filipino palate and culinary heritage.

Around a thousand guests -- diplomats, office workers, media mavens, social media influencers and others – braved the heat of early summer, as if drawn by the scent of classics like simmering adobo, sizzling sisig, and the aroma of roasted pig (lechon).

Ambassador Josel F. Ignacio keynoted the Festival. No sooner had the Ambassador intoned “kain na!” (“let’s eat”), the Filipino tableside call to arms, when brisk business went abuzz at food stalls across the festival grounds.

The stalls served a generous and mouth-watering banquet of Filipino dishes, classic and new, savory and sweet, mains and street fare. Visitors were spoilt for choice, with a bevy of enticements such as the characteristic sizzle of crispy sisig, the hearty warmth of kalderetang kambing, and the eye-opening delights of pinoy favorites gaining foreign favor, such as chicken inasal and pastil. 

Supporting the project were culinary talents and kitchen habitues from the ranks of Filipino entrepreneurs and organizations such Filipinas In India Community (FIC) and the Kapisanan ng mga Pilipino na may Asawang Indiano sa Hindustan (KAPIHAN).

Lending prestige, meanwhile, was local Filipino celebrity chef Augusto Cabrera and a stall from soon-to-open Boya restaurant. Chef Cabrera wed culinary talent with the history of Filipino-Indian interaction as he did a cooking demonstration of kare-kare.

The rich Philippine peanut sauce-infused stew, believed to have derived from Indian sepoys residing in 18^th-century Philippines, easily won the hearts of their present-day compatriots.

In true Filipino style, a fiesta atmosphere pervaded all throughout the event. Embassy personnel helmed games like Hampas Palayok and Food Bingo, handing out prizes of delicacies.

On stage, Filipino talents provided lively entertainment. Singer Leslie Fotader tugged at the heartstrings with her vocal prowess, while Kimbee Saxena captivated with her rendition of enchanting Filipino folk dance.

The largest gastronomic event hosted to date by the Embassy, Filipinas Food Festival was a nod to the annual global celebration of Filipino Food Month. It also honored the ongoing commemoration of 75 years of Philippine-Indian ties, as a bridge spanning the seas – and dining tables – to foster mutual appreciation.

“Filipino Food has taken its rightful place at India’s table” said Ambassador Ignacio. “The Embassy extends a heartfelt ‘Maraming Salamat’ and ‘Dhanyavaad’ to all our patrons, supporters, and guests, for this fantastic event that will be a fixture of the Indian gastronomic calendar. END

Among those who dived into Filipino food were Filipinos in Delhi, influencers (top L) and (bottom) diplomats including Defense Attachés and Ambassadors.

U.S.-India-Philippines Triangular Partnership Mentor Filipino Disaster Responders on Telemedicine and Psychosocial Service

Amb. Ignacio and U.S. Ambassador Garcetti with Vice Consul Dizon and the Filipino Telemedicine Trainees.

NEW DELHI — Close to 40 Filipino health professionals received training in telemedicine and psychosocial care in India in March and April, under a “trilateral development partnership” (TriDeP) program implemented by the U.S. and Indian Governments with the Philippines.

From 18 to 22 March, a delegation of 20 Filipinos underwent a training program on responding to psychosocial support and mental health services in disaster management, organized by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore, Karnataka State.

A few weeks later, from 08 to 11 April, another 19 Filipinos underwent telemedicine training hosted by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). 

Celebrating the successful conclusion of the two trainings, a reception was hosted by U.S. Ambassador to India Eric M. Garcetti at his residence for the Filipino telemedicine trainees on 12 April. Ambassador Josel F. Ignacio and officials of the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) and other partners attended.

Addressing the reception, Ambassador Ignacio expressed profound appreciation to the U.S. and Indian governments for engaging the Philippines as a third-country TriDep partner. Citing the particular disaster vulnerabilities of the Philippines, he underscored the value of the trainings in enhancing local capacity to address critical aspects of disaster risk management and meeting newer imperatives.

“This triangular partnership is in essence a ‘right’ triangle: we uphold the shared values and advocacies of our three countries”, said Ambassador Ignacio.

The Telemedicine trainees, who came from all across the Philippines, were: Dr. Jeremy L. Licudine, Ms. Nikki R. Catabona, Mr. Richard T. Regino, Mr. Jason S. Mariano, Ms. Editha G. Facturan, Dr. Maria Doris J. Cordova, Dr. Kristen Mae A. Yu, Dr. Edgar Orven M. Mortel, Mrs. Cherrie D. Esteban, Mr. Reynald Jade Darryl B. Cruz, Dr. Tristan Jediah V. Labitad, Mr. Arturo M. Ongkeko, Mr. Jejomar G. Guanzon, Mrs. Steffi Christel S. Pondevida, Mr. Paolo L. Concepcion, Dr. Jinky Leilanie D.P. Lu, Ms. Jillian Marie S. Camiling, Dr. Grace D. Donasco, and Ms. Michelle Kaye O. Petallana.

The TriDeP is principally a cooperation framework between the U.S. and India. The goal is to advance their common vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region, while also enhancing the regional development cooperation footprint of India, as a “preferred partner” of the U.S.

Demand-driven programs are implemented through the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) and the Asia Foundation; and India's MEA and Indian centers of excellence. TriDeP focuses on the three areas of Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Smart Agriculture, and Renewable Energy.  

The two trainings for Filipino health professionals were developed in consultation with the Department of Health. END

Philippines Congratulates WHO Southeast Asia Regional Office on World Health Day

Ambassador Ignacio with WHO SEARO Regional Director Saima Wazed and Filipino Regional Emergencies Director Dr. Edwin Salvador.

 New Delhi – On the occasion of World Health Day and the 76^th Anniversary of the World Health Organization (WHO) Ambassador Josel F. Ignacio attended the reception hosted by Regional Director Saima Wazed and the WHO Regional Office for Southeast Asia (SEARO), on 7 April at the Hyatt Regency Delhi.

World Health Day was first observed in 1950, to coincide with the anniversary of the WHO, which was established on April 7 two years before.

Regional Director Wazed is a globally recognized advocate of autism issues who. assumed the helm of the Regional Office in 2023. She is the daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh.

WHO-SEARO covers 11 countries representing a quarter of the world’s population namely, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste.

Filipinos play a crucial role in the WHO’s work in India and the larger region. The WHO Representative to India is Dr. Roderico H. Ofrin, while WHO SEARO’s Regional Emergencies Director is Dr. Edwin C. Salvador.

 The Philippines, a WHO Founding Member, is under the jurisdiction of WHO Western Pacific, whose headquarters it hosts in Manila. END