The Embassy of Belgium in the Philippines recently held a very special day filled with gastronomy, hospitality, and friendship that had 20 Filipinos, myself included, learning to cook popular Belgian dishes at the International Food Services (IFS) building in the city of Paranaque.
This was just one of the many activities of "The Belgian Days Manila", part of the celebration of the 80 years of diplomatic relations between Belgium and the Philippines. Through a vibrant program blending culture, cinema, gastronomy, business, and family-friendly experiences, it aims to showcase the richness of Belgian creativity while strengthening existing connections and creating new opportunities for dialogue and partnership.
And there was no better place to learn to cook Belgian cuisine that at the IFS, an technologically advanced independent, global maritime catering company for offshore and merchant vessels. Its founder and CEO is Michel Pradolini, who founded the company in 2000 and has helped open a career for many Filipinos globally.
Chef Ryan, a Filipino who lived in Belgium for many years, taught us how to cook three iconic Belgian dishes including Liège salad, a warm dish made with beans, bacon, eggs, parsley, and a special dressing; meatballs with “lapin” sauce; and the famous Belgian waffles.
The participants were divided into two groups and each had its own cooking station. I volunteered to cook the Liège salad as I really want to replicate it at home.
The other chefs and staff at IFS were really patient throughout and in just a short time, we were all able to prepare food for around 60 children and youth from underprivileged neighborhoods in Manila who are enrolled in a reintegration program led by the Chemin Neuf Community. And I made new friends in the process so in more ways than one, it was really quite memorable.
We were also given a tour of the IFS building, which had its grand opening in February this year in Paranaque. Here, we learned about this Belgian company's catering concept, which is based on three pillars that are intertwined and with a high focus on safety, hygiene and environment: data and waste management, train and support cook, and catering audit. I would love to learn more so I can write about it in a separate post.
Before lunch time, we were on our way to Chemin Neuf Community in Sampaloc that Father Stéphane Lange, also a Belgian, oversees.
The kids were waiting for us and one can really see the excitement in their eyes and after a very short program, lunch was served. It was a good feeling seeing them enjoy the food we prepared but their faces expressed even greater joy upon seeing the surprise the Embassy of Belgium in the Philippines had in store: a visit from the Smurfs! After the young ones had their share of photos with the beloved blue-skinned, "three apples tall" characters from Belgium, we too had to have our pictures taken with them.
Truly, I have to say that these activities perfectly embodied the spirit of the Belgian Days, highlighting not only the richness of Belgian gastronomy but also core values such as solidarity, inclusion, and cultural exchange.
The Embassy of Belgium in the Philippines is really going all out this year as it reaffirms its commitment to strengthening human and cultural ties between the two countries, beyond diplomatic relations. Through the Belgian Days, the Embassy has been able to build bridges and highlight shared values deeply rooted in both Belgium and the Philippines: hospitality, solidarity, and sharing. And they have more activities in store this year which you can check out at https://belgiandays.ph/
Thank you once again to the Embassy of Belgium in the Philippines for this heart-warming and tummy-filling experience. By Dexter R. Matilla
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