GOVPH

Sales of PH fresh fruits and food products breach billion-dollar mark at China expo

SHANGHAI –  The Philippines capped another sterling stint at China’s – and the world’s -- largest import-themed expo, as its fresh produce and food products copped USD 1.1 billion-worth of sales and deals.

A total of 16 Philippine agricultural and food industry exhibitors took part in the 6^th China International Import Expo (CIIE) held earlier this month, on 5-10 November, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.

Buyer interest was high not only for the Philippines mainstay exports to China of bananas and pineapples, but also for recent market entrant fresh durian; and goods being mainstreamed into the Chinese market, such as seafood, specialty coffee and others.

Philippine sales at the CIIE has seen sustained year-on-year gains. This year’s billion-dollar result nearly doubles 2022’s USD 655 million, and represent an almost ten-fold increase from the Philippines’ USD 128-million outcome from the maiden CIIE in 2018.

This makes the CIIE one of the most fruitful overseas trade events for the country, and a key platform for promoting exports to China under the “Food Philippines” banner.

Philippine participation in the CIIE is helmed by the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, and Center for International Trade Exhibitions and Missions, with the support of the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc., (PhilExport), the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), and the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai. END

Kamayan dining hands-down winner with Shanghai women’s network

Shanghai –  Philippine kamayan dining found new adherents in China’s financial capital on 23 November as close to 50 members of The Expatriate Center (TEC)-WǒMén treated themselves to a Filipino “boodle fight” lunch hosted by Tomatito Tapas Bar in Huangpu District.

Led by its President, Ms. Flora Peñalosa, the ladies of TEC-WǒMén partook of a generous spread of Philippine delectables – cuchinillo (roasted suckling pig); chicken inasal, fish, squid and prawns; pakbet (traditional northern Philippine vegetable stew), pansit and others.

The activity was tied up with TEC-WǒMén’s celebration of Thanksgiving.

Attending as guest of honor, Consul General Josel F. Ignacio delivered a spirited, well-received preface to the meal, explaining key elements of Filipino cuisine and dining culture. He expounded on the Filipino ways of kamayan (eating with the hands) and salo-salo (communal dining) and their recent incarnation as boodle fight, a trend fast catching on in the West.

The diners listened intently as the Consul General traced the historical and etymological roots of both traditions and demonstrated the Filipino “pick-pack-push” kamayan technique for partaking of items from the spread.

Consul General Ignacio was accompanied by Philippine Department of Tourism Administrative Officer Ghienel S. Gustilo.

TEC-WǒMén is affiliated with TEC, a one-stop service platform of the Shanghai Family Life Center, created to assist expatriates and Chinese re-establishing residence in Shanghai.

TEC-WǒMén was established earlier this year to support and promote women members’ welfare and mental wellness via a variety of events and gatherings. To emphasize this solidarity, the organization’s name is a play on the Mandarin word for “We” (我们, wǒmen).

Significantly, TEC-WǒMén’s gathering over a Filipino lunch took place on the eve of the global campaign to end Violence Against Women (VAW), which in the Philippines takes place as an 18-Day Campaign  stretching annually from 25 November until 12 December. END

PCG Shanghai cuts ribbon on Gender & Development Corner

Shanghai, 25 November 2023 –  The Philippine Government’s Gender and Development (GAD) agenda gained greater prominence and furtherance in this metropolis as the Consulate General ribbon-cut its “GAD Corner”.

Leading the rites were Consul General Josel F. Ignacio and visiting DFA Assistant Secretary Domingo P. Nolasco, Assistant Secretary Patrick John U. Hilado. In attendance were PCG personnel, visiting officials from the DFA and the Commission on Audit, and PCG personnel. Lending their presence were Filipino Community-Shanghai (FILCOMSHA) President Michelle Teope-Shen and Dai-ichi Electronics Shanghai Co. Ltd. GM Lee Mie Yee.

The corner – donning the purple color representing women’s causes and advocacies -- makes accessible resource materials on advancing gender equality and GAD. GAD pertains to the development perspective and process that is participatory, empowering, equitable, sustainable, respectful of human rights, and supportive of self-determination and actualization.

As prescribed by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), GAD Corners are “physical spaces such as bulletin boards, a corner in the library or similar public spaces where GAD information is posted for general consumption. The information in the GAD corner is regularly updated”.

“We have gone beyond a bulletin board, and created a space – a safe space, a breathing space, to learn about GAD”, emphasized CG Ignacio. “There is a strong nexus between GAD, topics of culture, and gender-based biases and violence. Accordingly, we have co-located this GAD Corner adjacent to our ATN Unit, our Cultural Wing and Library, and breastfeeding and lactation room”.

The inauguration was timed with Day 1 of the Philippines’ 18-Day Campaign  to End Violence Against Women (VAW), which runs from 25 November until 12 December of each year.

The 18-day advocacy was mandated by Proclamation No. 1172 in 2006. The period is bookended by the International Day against VAW (25 November) and the date of adoption (12 December) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children of the UN Convention Against Transnational Crime of 2000. END