The ASEAN Ladies Circle (ALC) in The Hague enjoyed a wonderful morning of multi-sensory experience of Philippine culture at the Philippine Embassy on 28 June as Rena Cristina Koa-Malaya, M.D., spouse of Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya, hosted the ALC for its morning coffee gathering, dubbed "Salu-Salo: A Taste of Philippine Culture and Cuisine."
In her welcome remarks, Dr. Cristina Malaya expressed hope that the event will spark the participants’ interest “in the colorful and vibrant culture of the Philippines, and I hope that someday you will all visit the Philippines, if you have not done so, to see our commonalities as well as diversity as one ASEAN family.”
She also conveyed her excitement in hosting the ASEAN ladies, “This event is quite a momentous occasion for the Philippine Embassy as this is the first time that we will host an ALC event here at the Chancery, after its comprehensive renovation.”
The event featured a piano performance by Filipino-Dutch artist Ms. Sarah Jane Verouden, who serenaded the ASEAN ladies with Filipino classic ballads, “Sapagkat Kami’y Tao Lamang” (Because We Are Only Human) and “Ikaw ay Akin” (You are Mine), which the attendees lauded. She also played the Debussy masterpiece, “Arabesque no. 1 in E Major”.
The piano performance was followed by two interactive activities, namely the Fiesta Filipinas “Wagayway Festival” Workshop, wherein they built a diorama of the Aguinaldo Shrine, the birthplace of Philippine Independence, and the making of the beloved Filipino dessert, “halo-halo” (mix-mix).
The attendees also enjoyed Filipino delicacies “pichi-pichi” (grated cassava and coconut delicacy), “sapin-sapin” (glutinous rice cake), “embutido” (ground chicken meatloaf), “pancit” (noodles), “turon” (banana lumpia with caramel) and “lumpiang sariwa” (fresh vegetable spring roll).
Mme. Nataya Archjananun, Patron of ALC Thailand, also welcomed two new members of ALC from Thailand during the program.
The event was attended by the spouses of the Ambassadors and lady diplomats from ASEAN countries represented in The Hague, namely Thailand (current ALC Chair), Malaysia, Viet Nam, Indonesia and the Philippines.
