Filipino Cuisine and Cultural Heritage at “Salu-Salo: Filipino Food Festival” in Chongqing

Chongqing, 28 May 2025 — The Philippine Consulate General in Chongqing, China, hosted “Salu-Salo: Filipino Food Festival” on 28 May 2025. The event showcased the vibrant fl avors of Filipino cuisine and the enduring ties between the Philippines and China, drawing guests from the consular corps, local government, media, business sector, and the Filipino community.

The celebration echoed this year’s National Heritage Month theme, “Heritage and Identity: Preserving the Past, Enriching the Future.” The festival’s menu, themed around coconut—a hallmark of Filipino cooking—was specially prepared by guest chef Oscar Renei B. Gutay from the Manila Marriott Hotel, who was fl own in through the partnership of Westin Chongqing Liberation Square and the Manila Marriott Hotel.

In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Diplomatic Relations of the Philippines and China, dishes were creatively prepared using traditional and contemporary Filipino techniques on locally available ingredients in China. The menu also featured fried rice made with pickles from the Panhua Group, one of the largest Chinese investors in the Philippines, thereby symbolizing the continued, evolving culinary relationship between the two countries.

A special highlight of the evening was the screening of a behind-the-scenes video produced by Beijing-based China Global Television Network (CGTN), which documented the collaboration between the Filipino chef and the Chinese executive chef of Westin Chongqing Liberation Square during the preparation of the festival
menu. The video gave guests a closer look at the culinary exchange and the spirit of cooperation behind the event.

The evening also featured rich cultural performances. Guests enjoyed live renditions of traditional Chinese music performed on the erhu and bamboo fl ute. A Chongqing-based dancer whose work bridges classical tradition and contemporary expression also performed. Sinag MaharLikha, a cultural group from the Filipino community in Chongqing, wowed the guests with a vibrant repertoire featuring diverse regional traditions of the Philippines.

Consul General Ivan Frank Olea, in his welcome remarks, emphasized the importance of cultural diplomacy in building deeper understanding and meaningful connections. “Tonight’s event is more than just a culinary showcase — it is a celebration of friendship and shared journeys,” he said.

The Filipino Food Festival is part of the Consulate’s ongoing commitment to promote Philippine heritage abroad and strengthen people-to-people ties with Chongqing and Western China through culture, cuisine, and collaboration.

The Philippine Consulate collaborated with the Foreign Affairs Offi ce of Yuzhong District and the Chongqing International Culture Exchange Center for this event. END