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Shanghai, 13 June 2021 – Hundreds of guests craving for a taste of the Philippines trooped to the first-ever Fiesta Filipinas -- Kain Na! event in Shanghai on June 13, 2021 at Found 158, Shanghai’s popular open-air dining complex.

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Helmed by the Shanghai Office of the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC Shanghai) with the support of the Philippine Consulate General, the event trained the spotlight on Filipino cuisine and festival culture.

Seven locally based Filipino cooks served up classic Filipino dishes to over 800 guests that included Chinese and other expatriates in Shanghai and, not surprisingly, a huge crowd of Filipino kababayans eager for a taste of home.

Featured were Filipino favorites such as lechon kawali, sisig, adobo and halo-halo. The best of Philippine food products and ingredients were also on centerstage, which the Filipino cooks took full advantage of in their creations: sisig using Century Tuna, halo-halo topped with Pong Pong banana chips, dessert balls with MY San Graham crackers, bibingka based on Coco Mama coconut cream and maja blanca spiked with Tanduay Rum – a fresh and enticing take on this classic kakanín. 

The event also proved an excellent platform for promoting Filipino products. Liwayway of Oishi snack-fame, showcased its latest line of new snacks and beverages. Super Coco presented its famous virgin coconut oil and coconut-related products. Juga brand’s purees highlighted the singular brand of sweetness of Philippine mangoes in refreshing smoothies.

The booths drew crowds and saw fast-moving inventories, with further sales realized via e-commerce platforms such as T Mall, JD.com, Taobao, Pinduoduo and Suning.

“Thfiesta2cc1is initiative is in line with the Department of Tourism KAIN NA program, to promote Philippine gastronomy to the international market”, according to PDOT Chief Ireneo Reyes. PTIC head Tani, for his part, underscored the event’s role in increasing Philippine food exports to China, citing the introduction of over 20 various products to the Chinese mainstream market in the fresh and processed food categories.

Opening the event, Consul General Josel F. Ignacio proudly observe “that Filipino food is finally taking its rightful place, literally, on the table, and that the past decade has seen interest in Filipino cuisine surge globally” . Citing the success of Filipino restaurants and pop-ups in around the world, “Surely, Shanghai, a global city in its own right, should not be far behind”, he said.

Folkloric dances from Tribu Hiligaynon, a Filipino Community group performed the Masskara and Dinagyang festival dances which wowed both Filipino and Chinese crowds.

fiesta3cc1The event drew a Chinese social media coverage of the event was extensive, as the DOT enlisted the draw of popular vlogger Chang Lin, known to followers as “Travel Lin”, who featured the event live to 11 million viewers for 1.5 hours, earning over 2,813 comments and a million likes. A two-minute highlights video on her Weibo page garnered 700,000 views and 2,400 likes. 

At the sidelines of the event, the Consulate General also entertained inquiries and registrations for overseas absentee voting, from participating Filipino expatriates. END

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On the final episode of #FiestaFilipinas, we bring you to discover a gem tucked away in the southern part of the Philippines—Mindanao! Join the Department of Foreign Affairs as we take you on a journey to the cities of Zamboanga and Basilan, where you can marvel at the intricately-woven Yakan cloth, traditional indigenous music, and the peaceful sceneries of the Lami-Lamihan Festival!

The Lami-Lamihan Festival of Lamitan in Basilan is a celebration of the rich culture of the Yakan tribe and is a way to promote cultural harmony among the people from the Yakan, Tausug, Muslim, and Christian communities in the area.

Join us for the finale event of #FiestaFilipinas featuring the Lami-Lamihan festival on June 26, 2021, 10:00 a.m. (local time) on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruAHTfp4ZTE.

agricounselormeetVisiting Agricultural Counselor Abejuela in consultations with Consul General Ignacio (2nd from L) Consul Demdem (L), and Commercial Vice Consul Tani. 

Shanghai, 15 June 2021 – Consul General Josel F. Ignacio received today visiting Philippine Agricultural Counselor Ana Gracia Maria B. Abejuela at the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai.

Based in Beijing, Counselor Abejuela was in town for a series of engagements, and paid a call on the Consulate General to discuss the latter’s priority projects in the Shanghai area for the remainder of the year. Also present were Economic Officer Consul Conrado B. Demdem, Jr., and Commercial Vice Consul Mario Tani.

Key undertakings discussed included the Philippines’ participation in this year’s edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world’s first and import-focused exposition, where Philippine sales and deals have performed solidly since the inaugural staging in 2018.

Both sides also discussed plans to hold an Agribusiness Webinar for Filipinos in Shanghai and surrounding provinces within the year, to encourage them to invest and engage in agribusiness in the Philippines, and avail themselves of the various support programs of the Department of Agriculture.

Consul General Ignacio conveyed the Consulate’s enthusiasm in pursuing these initiatives and its full support in seeing them through to realization and success. END  

ChangningInvestmentConsul Demdem (R) and Commercial Vice Consul Tani (L) with Shanghai FAO DDG FU Jihong

Shanghai, 11 June 2021 – Seeking to engage local government leaders and explore possible business opportunities, the Consulate General, represented by Economic Officer Consul Conrado B. Demdem, Jr. and Commercial Vice Consul Mario Tani, joined diplomats from other Consulates General at the 2021 Changning International Investment Promotion Meeting at the Shanghai Art Collection Museum on 10 June.

Organized by the Shanghai Changning District People’s Government, the event witnessed the attendance of various foreign business chambers and local entrepreneurs, as well as government officials led by Changning District Party Secretary Ms. WANG Lan, Acting Changning Mayor Mr. ZHANG Wei, and Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) Deputy Director General Mr. FU Jihong.    

Acting Changning Mayor ZHANG described Changning District as “a hot spot for investment and business” that is host to more than 6,600 foreign-funded enterprises and 73 regional headquarters of multinational corporations. Laying emphasis on the district’s welcoming and open atmosphere, the Mayor proudly underscored its stature as home to about half of Shanghai’s diplomatic residences, a third of consular offices, and one-fifth of the city’s expatriate population.

Changning District Party Secretary Ms. WANG Lan, for her part, cited the District’s openness, inclusiveness, and innovative drive as key factors that have turned it into “one of the most internationalized districts in Shanghai.”

In brief discussions after the meeting, Consul Demdem congratulated FAO DDG Fu on the achievements of the Shanghai and Changning District governments, and affirmed the Philippines’ keen interest to help link the District with Philippine businesses eager to explore opportunities.

Both the Philippine Consulate General and the Shanghai branch of Metrobank are themselves in Changning District.

Situated in the west of downtown Shanghai with an area of 37.19 kilometers, Changning District has a population of close to 580,000 people, the District is reputed for its sophisticated business environment built around a modern service industry, a burgeoning digital economy, and green spaces. It has gained prominence in the national development strategy via the Hongqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone and the annual hosting of the China International Import Expo, in support of China’s opening up and reform. END

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