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Sunday, November 26, 2006
Palace assures Asean delegates of 'halal' foods
MANILA -- Malacañang assured Muslim journalists and delegates to the 12th Asean Summit in Cebu next month that no pork will be in the menu during the summit duration, a statement said Saturday.
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The Palace statement said "halal," or especially prepared food for Muslims, will be included in the menu of Filipino recipes with distinct regional flavors during the summit from December 11 to 13.
"In recognition of the fact that half of the population in the 10 Asean member nations are Muslims, no pork would be served during the meeting. Only 'halal' food served in the 'halal' tradition would be provided to the Muslim journalists and delegates," the statement said.
It added that Manila-based caterer Via Mare is shipping to Cebu from Manila brand-new utensils and kitchen implement for use in preparing, cooking, and serving "halal" food during the summit.
But Diane Rosales, operations manager of Via Mare, said if delegates will request for the famous Cebu lechon (roasted pig), "we can make arrangements for them."
Rosales said other menus with foreign influences and yet acceptable to everyone will also be served in buffet style to some 2,000 media men and 250 delegates during lunch and dinner at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).
"Also, all food that would be served will be labeled with description so that the delegates would know what they are eating," Rosales said.
She said they will serve fruits, chicken, beef, fish and other seafood, and vegetables in each meal to be cooked in different ways.
"About 400 kilos of chicken, 200 kilos of fish fillet and 400 kilos of beef will be prepared and cooked each meal by Via Mare's 120 cooks and other kitchen personnel. Via Mare will also hire an additional 50 support service crews," the Palace statement said.
Rosales said a variety of fresh fish like lapu-lapu or grouper, tuna, blue marlin, tangigue and other seafood will be served grilled, "sinugba" style.
Tropical fruits that will come from the different provinces in the country will also be served, she said. Fresh pineapple will come from Ormoc City while pomelos and bananas will be sourced from Davao.
For a Cebuano touch, cooked rice in "puso" style (cooked wrapped in young coconut leaves) will be served.
More or less, eight sacks of rice a day would be cooked and served to the delegates, she said. Those who do not like rice can avail themselves of a variety of breads that will be made available, Rosales said.
For snacks, she said native delicacies like the budbud kabug or the Cebuano-type glutinous sweet rice cake, empanaditas, pastillas, turrones de saba, and guinatang halo-halo will also be offered.
Bibingka and puto-bumbong, another well-known Filipino delicacy usually served during Christmas, will be provided during snacks to add the Yuletide spirit during the gathering.
Carrot cake, chocolate cake, rum cake and native guinomis, haleyang ubi and leche plan will also be prepared. Drinks like coffee, tea, softdrinks, canned juices and mineral waters will also be available, Rosales added.
Last Wednesday, a concessionaire canceled Wednesday its P5.9-million contract with the House following a slapping incident involving a Muslim lawmaker who was served noodles laced with pork.
Representative Faysah Dumarpa (1st district Lanao del Sur, Lakas-CMD) assaulted dining manager Virginia Altamirano, slapping her and trying to stab Altamirano after she found her noodles had pork. Pork is taboo in Islam.
Initial investigation showed that when Dumarpa learned that she was served a pork dish, she got angry and went towards Altamerano and angrily confronted her.
During the verbal confrontation, she slapped Altamirano in front of the guests. Level-headed colleagues restrained Dumarpa and prevented further scandal. (JMR/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (November 26, 2006 issue)
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