A taste of the Philippines in Tokyo
August 6, 2006 | 12:00am
Visiting Japan? If you suddenly get homesick and crave home-style Filipino favorites like lechon, adobo, pancit malabon, lumpiang ubod and sinigang, and you want your meal with your all-time favorite original halo-halo complete with leche flan, macapuno, kaong, topped with ube ice cream, and to quench your thirst with tropical beverages like fresh mango or pineapple juice, freshly brewed barako coffee, banaba tea or Philippine beer, then swing by the Travel Cafe Philippines in Iidabashi, Tokyo.
Carefully planned and supervised by the Department of Tourism and Japanese company Travel Cafe Co. Ltd., Travel Cafe Philippines is the first of its kind – a café dedicated to a single-country destination.
The café formally opened its doors in Tokyo on July 25. Gracing the affair was Philippine Ambassador to Japan Domingo Siazon Jr., who impressed the Japanese and Filipino press by speaking in fluent Japanese. Also at the event was top Japanese model and fashion icon Anne Watanabe, who is the DOT’s spokesperson for "The Philippine: Wellness from Inside Out" in Japan, an Ambassador of Goodwill and the daughter of Oscar-nominated actor Ken Watanabe.
The café aims not only to serve as a place where visitors can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the Philippines, but also as a source of travel information about the Philippines. A "travel concierge" well-versed in Philippine destinations will also be available to personally assist guests.
While listening to Filipino classics, visitors will have the opportunity to ask questions about popular tourist spots to visit, get information on the weather and transportation. Aside from the wide array of delectable Filipino dishes developed specifically for Travel Cafe Philippines by multi-awarded restaurateur Glenda Rosales-Barretto of Via Mare, Japanese space planner Shien Co made use of the best furniture and Filipino materials for the interior of the place. The chairs make use of abaca cloth, tables are made from coconut shells, walls are inlaid with capiz shells, and the floor is made of bamboo – all made in the Philippines and designed by Movement 8 designers, led by Budji Layug and Al Coronan, furniture manufacturers Locsin International and Far Eastern Corporation.
The icon for Travel Cafe Philippines is a masterpiece sculpture in stone and glass by outstanding artist Impy Pilapil.
Travel Cafe Philippines Tokyo’s aim is to provide the vast 17.4 million Japanese outbound market, the women in particular, with an opportunity to become more familiar with the Philippines and entice them to make it their next holiday destination.
Our very dynamic Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano also checked the famous Namjatown theme park, which draws some 2.5 million visitors a year, located at Toshima-ku Tokyo. Part of Namjatown is Riraku no Mori, which is Japan’s first "healing theme park," which offers invigorating massages and reflexology techniques from around the world, including Bangkok, China, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Philippine Tourism attaché Benito Bengzon Jr. proudly informed us that our own "hilot salon," which is about 50 square meters in size and equipped with four beds, is a hit among the Japanese. The very popular coconut oil hilot, which is also used by Filipino massage therapists, is a favorite among the locals. Lines are often long in spite of its higher price compared with what other countries are offering.
To cap the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Japan and the Philippine-Japan Friendship Year, a splendid reception was hosted by Secretary Ace Durano and Ambassador Domingo Siazon Jr. and his wife Kazuko Siazon at the Kiku Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel. Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Hitachi graced the commemorative event, which captured the Filipinos’ festive spirit.
The guests dined on Filipino cuisine of kinilaw na tuna, tinolang manok, bistek and leche flan with mango and guava and ube ice cream, specially prepared by Filipino chefs Russel Abarquez and Glenn Rivera from Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa.
It was heartwarming to see The Philippine Cultural Dance Troupe of the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies composed of Japanese students dance the pastores de Talisay, singkil and tinikling. Two multi-awarded Filipino singers, Jon Joven and Rachelle Gerodias, touched the audiences as they rendered The Prayer, Bayan Ko, Sa Kabukiran, Be My Love, and Karatachino hana ga saita yo, a traditional Japanese song.
Carefully planned and supervised by the Department of Tourism and Japanese company Travel Cafe Co. Ltd., Travel Cafe Philippines is the first of its kind – a café dedicated to a single-country destination.
The café formally opened its doors in Tokyo on July 25. Gracing the affair was Philippine Ambassador to Japan Domingo Siazon Jr., who impressed the Japanese and Filipino press by speaking in fluent Japanese. Also at the event was top Japanese model and fashion icon Anne Watanabe, who is the DOT’s spokesperson for "The Philippine: Wellness from Inside Out" in Japan, an Ambassador of Goodwill and the daughter of Oscar-nominated actor Ken Watanabe.
The café aims not only to serve as a place where visitors can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the Philippines, but also as a source of travel information about the Philippines. A "travel concierge" well-versed in Philippine destinations will also be available to personally assist guests.
While listening to Filipino classics, visitors will have the opportunity to ask questions about popular tourist spots to visit, get information on the weather and transportation. Aside from the wide array of delectable Filipino dishes developed specifically for Travel Cafe Philippines by multi-awarded restaurateur Glenda Rosales-Barretto of Via Mare, Japanese space planner Shien Co made use of the best furniture and Filipino materials for the interior of the place. The chairs make use of abaca cloth, tables are made from coconut shells, walls are inlaid with capiz shells, and the floor is made of bamboo – all made in the Philippines and designed by Movement 8 designers, led by Budji Layug and Al Coronan, furniture manufacturers Locsin International and Far Eastern Corporation.
The icon for Travel Cafe Philippines is a masterpiece sculpture in stone and glass by outstanding artist Impy Pilapil.
Travel Cafe Philippines Tokyo’s aim is to provide the vast 17.4 million Japanese outbound market, the women in particular, with an opportunity to become more familiar with the Philippines and entice them to make it their next holiday destination.
Our very dynamic Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano also checked the famous Namjatown theme park, which draws some 2.5 million visitors a year, located at Toshima-ku Tokyo. Part of Namjatown is Riraku no Mori, which is Japan’s first "healing theme park," which offers invigorating massages and reflexology techniques from around the world, including Bangkok, China, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Philippine Tourism attaché Benito Bengzon Jr. proudly informed us that our own "hilot salon," which is about 50 square meters in size and equipped with four beds, is a hit among the Japanese. The very popular coconut oil hilot, which is also used by Filipino massage therapists, is a favorite among the locals. Lines are often long in spite of its higher price compared with what other countries are offering.
To cap the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Japan and the Philippine-Japan Friendship Year, a splendid reception was hosted by Secretary Ace Durano and Ambassador Domingo Siazon Jr. and his wife Kazuko Siazon at the Kiku Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel. Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Hitachi graced the commemorative event, which captured the Filipinos’ festive spirit.
The guests dined on Filipino cuisine of kinilaw na tuna, tinolang manok, bistek and leche flan with mango and guava and ube ice cream, specially prepared by Filipino chefs Russel Abarquez and Glenn Rivera from Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa.
It was heartwarming to see The Philippine Cultural Dance Troupe of the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies composed of Japanese students dance the pastores de Talisay, singkil and tinikling. Two multi-awarded Filipino singers, Jon Joven and Rachelle Gerodias, touched the audiences as they rendered The Prayer, Bayan Ko, Sa Kabukiran, Be My Love, and Karatachino hana ga saita yo, a traditional Japanese song.
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