The UP Asian Center will hold the on-site gastronomic fair, "Flavors of Friendship: A Taste of ASEAN Heritage" on 10 November 2025, 8 AM to 12 PM (GMT+8), at the GT-Toyota Asian Center, UP Diliman. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register online.
ABOUT THE FOOD FESTIVAL
As ASEAN moves toward the goals outlined in the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, it continues to promote a united, inclusive, and resilient political-security community, alongside a highly integrated and dynamic economic and socio-cultural community. Within this broader vision, gastrodiplomacy has emerged as a creative and accessible avenue for strengthening people-to-people connections and celebrating the region’s shared heritage through food.
As this year also marks the 70th founding anniversary of the UP Asian Center, the Asian Center seeks to honor the spirit of solidarity that underpins both ASEAN and the Center’s own mandate. By showcasing ASEAN’s rich culinary traditions and highlighting the role of food in diplomacy and cultural identity, this one-day event aims to celebrate seven decades of the Asian Center’s engagement with Asia and its peoples. The event also aspires not only to deepen bilateral and regional ties, but also to translate the aspirations of ASEAN into a shared sensory, cultural, and communal experience–one that affirms diversity, fosters cooperation, and brings to the table both heritage and hope for deeper regional integration.
The gastronomic fair will showcase food booths and cooking demonstrations featuring traditional dishes from various ASEAN countries.
ASEAN embassies were invited to participate primarily through booth presentations and cultural displays. Each participating embassy will have a booth to present their signature national dishes and offer tasting portions and display culinary and cultural materials such as cookbooks, food-related crafts, and promotional items.
ABOUT THE GUESTS AND SPEAKERS
ASec. CELIA ANNA M. FERIA
Assistant Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippines
Celia Anna M. Feria has a 35-year career foreign service officer with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. She is currently the Assistant Secretary for Cultural Diplomacy at the DFA. Assistant Secretary Feria graduated from the University of San Francisco in California with a degree in Government ( and minored in Latin American Studies), and from the Escuela Diplomatica in Madrid. Her foreign postings include Brasilia, Paris, Madrid, and Lisbon. Assistant Secretary Feria was the Philippine Ambassador to Portugal from May 2017 to October 2023.
H.E. Ambassador AGUS WIDJOJO
Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia to the Republic of the Philippines
His Excellency Agus Widjojo is a distinguished Indonesian statesman and former Lieutenant General of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) who transitioned into diplomacy. Born on June 8 1947, he graduated from the Indonesian Armed Forces Academy in 1970 and served extensively in Indonesia’s military and political spheres, notably as a leading intellectual reformer of the TNI. On January 12 2022, he was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to the Philippines, with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. In his diplomatic role, he emphasizes strengthening Indonesia–Philippines relations through economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and regional security collaboration, drawing on his rich background in defence, governance and international affairs.
Mr. MOHD FAIZAL MOHD SHARIP
Tourism Attache, Embassy of Malaysia in the Philippines
Mr. Mohd Faizal Sharip serves as Tourism Attache at the Embassy of Malaysia in the Philippines, where he leads efforts to promote Malaysian tourism and strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties between Malaysia and the Philippines. In his role, he has been involved in launches and events such as the “Visit Malaysia 2026” campaign and cultural-tourism festivals in Manila, underscoring his commitment to boosting bilateral tourism and exchange.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZER
The fair is organized by the UP Asian Center in collaboration with the Office of Cultural Diplomacy, Department of Foreign Affairs.