Text and photos by Monsi A. Serrano
Not many people know that the Filipinos and Turkish had a long-standing relationship even before the establishment of the bilateral relations, speaking to THEPHILBIZNEWS on the sideline, this was revealed by Türkiye Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Niyazi Evren Akyol at the launching of Turkish food festival The Peninsula Manila’s Escolta, last April 15.
As the Philippines and Türkiye gear up to celebrate the diamond jubilee (75 years) of Diplomatic Relations, The Embassy of Türkiye in the Philippines and The Peninsula Manila in partnership with Turkish Airlines treated their guests to traditional Turkish foods at The Peninsula Manila.
Türkiye’s gastrodiplomacy showcased during the Turkish Food Festival at The Peninsula Manila put all the guests in awe as Ambassador Akyol described each Turkish cuisine served during the dinner, sans the Şiş Kebab and Döner from salad to main course and even the savory pastries and desserts like Baklava.
He also noted that Turkish cuisine traces back more than a thousand years from its diverse cultures and traditions, and diverse flavors from varying spices available in Türkiye.
On the Philippine-Türkiye relations, Ambassador Akyol cherishes the deepening relationship between the two countries and sees “wealth of opportunities” for Turkish businesses to invest in the Philippines given the conducive business environment the current administration is advocating for.
The Turkish envoy also noted that the strong people-to-people exchange between the Philippines and Türkiye has been going strong in various aspects such as tourism, business, and investment.
“We will continue to strengthen our bilateral relationships and in the 75th year, we look forward to many more wonderful journeys with the Philippines and the Filipino people,” Ambassador Akyol added.
For those who miss the exquisite Turkish food, this is your chance to indulge again while you are planning to schedule your next trip to Türkiye. And for those who wonder what Turkish food is, don’t miss the opportunity to tickle your taste buds and enjoy an amazing array of mouthwatering and irresistible Turkish dishes that’s sure to delight the senses and recreate the magic of Türkiye from April 15 to May 15, 2024.
For details, please call +63 (2) 8887 2888 extension 6691 and 6694 (Restaurant Reservations), or e-mail Dining PMN@peninsula.com, or visit the website peninsula.com/manila and https://turkish cuisineweek.com#TurkishFoodFestival.
