PH Embassy Partners with Language City Café in the Promotion of Philippine Culture 

The Philippine Embassy in Jordan, headed by His Excellency Wilfredo C. Santos, partnered with the Language City Café in Amman to showcase Filipino heritage and culture through the Filipino Open Day held on 20 September 2024.

In his opening remarks during the event, Ambassador Santos emphasized that the event celebrates the lasting friendship and common values between the Filipinos and Jordanians. “Today’s event is more than just a celebration; it is a testament to the enduring friendship between our two countries as we continue to build bridges through cultural exchanges and by celebrating our shared values and aspirations as well as meaningful differences that complement and unite us. We are very eager to offer you the warmth of our hospitality and share with you a glimpse of our diverse traditions, unique heritage, delectable flavors, lively rhythms, scenic attractions and many more.”, Ambassador Santos said.

Throughout the day, the café transformed into a Filipino cultural hub. Food stalls under the banner Kulinarya Jordan offered a diverse range of Filipino pastries and desserts which allowed guests to indulge in delicious treats while mingling with new and old friends. The culinary highlights of the festivities included pansit, ube ice cream, leche flan, halo-halo, ensaymada, pandesal, yema cake, as well as chocolate and ube cakes.

The event also featured Malong Workshop where guests had the opportunity to try their hand at wearing malong in various ways, guided by ladies from the Union of Overseas Bangsamoro, a Filipino community organization in Jordan.

The malong is a traditional wraparound skirt from the Filipino-Bangsamoro culture, characterized by its rectangular or tube-like shape and adorned with various geometric designs. This versatile garment is worn by both men and women across the diverse ethnic groups in mainland Mindanao and certain regions of the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines.

Guests were also immersed in various facets of Filipino culture, including tourism destinations, textiles, jewelries, and handicrafts. Additionally, they received an overview of Philippine history and traditions through a selection of curated books and reading materials made available in a reading nook at the café. 

The event, a first of its kind to be held in Amman, was a vibrant celebration of everything Filipino. Its main objective was to promote understanding and enhance the Philippines’ image in Jordan by highlighting its cultural strengths, fostering positive relations, and promoting goodwill between the two nations. It also aimed to create opportunities for dialogue and connection between the Filipino community, Jordanians, and other expatriates, strengthening multicultural relationships within Jordan. Finally, the event was also held in conjunction with the celebration of the Philippine Creative Industries Month this September.

Language City Café was established by Mr. Asem Kateeb, a local Jordanian, in June 2024, who aimed to create a welcoming environment for people to come together for their BlaBla Language Exchange. This volunteer-driven community initiative, which he also launched in February 2020, was designed to offer language learners a space or platform to enhance their speaking skills.

The event was attended by around 600 guests, including diplomats, business owners, members of local media, and  local and expatriate communities in Jordan. END