On October 11, 2023, in Ljubljana, the Philippine Embassy in Vienna held a reception to mark the 30th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Slovenia. The reception was attended by key officials from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MFEA) led by Secretary-General Renata Cvelber Bek, the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities, business leaders, and representatives of the Filipino community in Slovenia.
The MFEA Secretary-General Cvelbar Bek and the Philippine Ambassador to Slovenia, Evangelina Lourdes A. Bernas, acknowledged in their remarks the many achievements of Philippine-Slovenian cooperation over the past 30 years, including recent high-level government contacts. They also expressed optimism for the future of the two countries’ relations, particularly in light of Slovenia’s decision to establish a career consulate general in Manila.
One of the reception’s main highlights was the Filipino hors d’oeuvres prepared by Chef Margarita Fores, who flew in from Manila for the occasion. The reception menu featured the innovative take of Chef Fores on traditional Filipino cuisine and ingredients, with guests feasting on chicharon curls with garlic mousse and adobo flakes, barquillos cylinders with chive mousse duet and etag crisp or Capiz bihod, tuna kinilaw ukoy with chili peppers and tuba vinegar, lumpia sotanghon crystal with bangus tinapa and Ilokos vinegar and pulot dipping sauce, seafood laing on pandesal, and boneless inasal inasluman soup shot with batwan and cherry tomatoes.
The Philippine Embassy in Vienna organized the event in close cooperation with the Philippine Honorary Consul to Slovenia, Srečko Debelak. There are 365 Filipinos living in Slovenia as of June 30, 2023.
- source – /Text and Picture: Philippine Embassy, Vienna
