Filipino Students Highlight Mindanao Cuisine at International Cultural Exhibit in Mutah University

The Filipino students from Mutah University with Third Secretary and Vice Consul Sheila Marie G. Andales (7th from left), Cultural Officer Rachel Joy A. Pamorada (6th from left), and Mr. Issa Mohammad Mofleh, Embassy translator (leftmost).

14 May 2025 KARAK — Filipino students at Mutah University proudly represented the Philippines during the University’s International Cultural Exhibit held on 14 May 2025, with a vibrant display that spotlighted Mindanao cuisine and local tourism destinations in the Philippines. 

The Philippine booth stood out for its authentic presentation of traditional dishes from Maguindanao, drawing interest from Jordanian students, and visitors. The students showcased unique culinary traditions such as ansimada (Filipino brioche), kumukunsi (a beautifully coiled, deep-fried delicacy made primarily from rice flour, eggs, and sugar), wagit (sticky, sweet rice-based dessert typically made from ground glutinous rice mixed with coconut milk and muscovado sugar), and maja (coconut milk pudding made from a mixture of cornstarch, coconut milk, sugar, and sweet corn), offering a taste of the Philippines’ Muslim south and demonstrating the country’s cultural diversity.

Mutah University hosts a growing number of Filipino students, with over 537 currently enrolled in various academic programs.

The exhibit is an important platform for Filipino students to take pride in their roots and share the rich and diverse culture of the Philippines. Their participation in such events reflects not only academic engagement but also the active promotion of cultural diplomacy in Jordan.

Through initiatives like this cultural exhibit, Filipino students continue to be cultural ambassadors, fostering mutual understanding and strengthening people-to-people ties between the Philippines and Jordan. 

Third Secretary and Vice Consul Sheila Marie G. Andales of the Philippine Embassy in Amman visited the exhibit to express the Embassy’s support for the Filipino student community. She was accompanied by Cultural Officer and Attaché Rachel Joy A. Pamorada and local translator Issa Momani. The Embassy officials engaged with the students, sampled the food on display, and commended their initiative in promoting Philippine heritage abroad. END

Third Secretary and Vice Consul Sheila Marie G. Andales receives a plaque of appreciation from Mutah University President, H.E Dr. Salameh Al-Naimat, and the Dean of the students' affairs Dr. Maher Al-Mobaidein

During the ribbon cutting ceremony

Filipino delicacies from Mindanao featured in the Filipino booth and enjoyed by Jordanian students.