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APEC2015 Chair President Benigno S. Aquino III hosted a welcome dinner for his fellow economic leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), on November 18, 2015 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. The leaders and guests were treated to a feast of the country's delectable cuisine while enjoying performances that showcased Filipino talent and culture. See the Filipino cuisine served on APEC, please click HERE!  Read the toast delivered by President Aquino: http://bit.ly/1MnYbog Photos by the Malacañang Photo Bureau. Toast of His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III President of the Philippines during the welcome dinner, APEC Economic Leaders meeting [Delivered at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City, on November 18, 2015] Excellencies, I thank all of you for an extremely productive start to our discussions. However, let me assure you that tonight’s dinner will not feature a menu of policy and statistics. After my remarks, which I will try to keep as...

Catch the delicious Filipino Dishes in APEC 2015 Welcome Dinner Party. On the #APEC2015 welcome dinner menu: Ensalada Tagala, Bistek Manilenya, Yamang Dagat Tinola, Maja Blanca Moderna. No Filipino welcome is complete without a feast. Yesterday evening’s welcome reception for the APEC Economic Leaders was no exception. Apart from a stirring cultural performance, delegates and guests were also treated to a sumptuous menu envisioned by Via Mare founder Glenda Barretto and Margarita—better known as Gaita—Forés of Cibo.  The dishes themselves were superbly executed, but the overall concept was simple. “We [presented] what is classic, national in taste,” says Glenda, “like flavors of adobo, tinola, kesong puti, itlog na maalat…” But the dishes were plated in a modern manner, Gaita adds. The dessert, for example, was classic maja blanca presented in a “very edgy, modern way”—with smoked coconut merengue and lambanog-poached mango. The dishes also benefited from modern ...