Makati city: The Philippines showcased Filipino heritage, cuisine, and artistry at a welcome dinner hosted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for foreign delegates who participated in the week-long 2026 ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) meetings in Makati City. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, serving as the 2026 ASCC chair, hosted the reception at the Centro de Turismo in Intramuros, Manila Wednesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DSWD announced on Thursday that the venue, a project of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, in collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Intramuros Administration, served as an apt setting to fully showcase an authentic Filipino experience. "It essentially tells the cultural and spiritual roots of the Filipinos, blending history with modern technology. As you look around, you will see the Philippines' journey from our pre-colonial period through all the challenges that shaped us into the nation we are today," Gatchalian stated.
One of the major pieces featured inside the Centro de Turismo is the Galleon of the Psychopomp, which reflects the story of the ASEAN, Gatchalian noted. "It is inspired by the old Manila galleons that used to cross vast oceans to trade and link people with different cultures. To me, it is a perfect metaphor for us. In many ways, it mirrors the story of ASEAN," he said. Gatchalian further elaborated on the symbolism, saying, "Similar to a balangay or a galleon navigating gentle or towering waves, we know that we, too, are on a shared journey of steering the region toward a more people-centered, inclusive, progressive, and resilient future."
The dinner featured culinary creations by Chef Florabel Co Yatco, who has been recognized for celebrating Filipino excellence through her cooking. The entr©e included grilled tiger prawns with crab fat sauce and lamb adobo with red mountain rice and Baguio harvest vegetables. Other dishes consisted of mini chicken inasal skewers with atchara papaya, pako salad with salted egg and Palawan cashews in honey vinaigrette, and desserts like suman latik with Batangas tsokolate, Palawan sans rival ball, and queso de bola cheesecake.
The cultural presentation also included performances by Filipino singer Johnoy Danao and the award-winning string ensemble De La Salle Santiago Zobel (DLSZ) Rondalla, who serenaded the ASCC delegates.
