Lamb Adobo, Rondalla, and History — PH Wows ASEAN Delegates at Intramuros Welcome Dinner
The Philippines pulled out all the stops to impress foreign delegates at the 2026 ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) meetings, hosting a grand welcome dinner at the Centro de Turismo in Intramuros, Manila. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, who serves as the 2026 ASCC chair, personally hosted the reception on Wednesday, March 4.
The venue itself was a showpiece — a collaborative project involving First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, the Department of Tourism, and the Intramuros Administration. Gatchalian told delegates that the space "tells the cultural and spiritual roots of the Filipinos, blending history with modern technology." The centerpiece? The Galleon of the Psychopomp, which Gatchalian compared to the ASEAN journey itself.
"Similar to a balangay or a galleon navigating gentle or towering waves, we know that we, too, are on a shared journey of steering the region toward a more people-centered, inclusive, progressive, and resilient future," the DSWD chief said. Poetic talaga.
The food was next level, curated by Chef Florabel Co Yatco. The menu celebrated Filipino culinary excellence with mini chicken inasal skewers paired with atchara and pako salad with Palawan cashews. The main course featured grilled tiger prawns in crab fat sauce and lamb adobo with red mountain rice and Baguio harvest vegetables. For dessert, delegates enjoyed suman latik with Batangas tsokolate, Palawan sans rival balls, and queso de bola cheesecake.
The cultural experience was completed by live performances from Filipino singer Johnoy Danao and the award-winning De La Salle Santiago Zobel Rondalla string ensemble. The week-long ASCC meetings are part of the Philippines' 2026 ASEAN Chairship under the theme "Navigating Our Future Together" — and if this dinner was any indication, the country is setting the bar high for the rest of the year.
Source: Sun.Star / Philippine News Agency
