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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Parliamentary forum delegates crave balut, durian; Romualdez obliges 

Parliamentary forum delegates crave balut, durian; Romualdez obliges 

Published Nov 24, 2023 05:24 am

At A Glance

  • The foreign delegates to the 31st Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF31) have requested to be served balut and durian.
  • House Speaker Martin Romualdez will host the delegates' dinner on Saturday, 25. 

20231124_112801.jpgBalut (left) and durian (Unsplash)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The foreign delegates to the 31st Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF31) made a special request to House Speaker Martin Romualdez in connection with the dinner that the Philippine official is scheduled to host on Saturday, 25. 

The delegates specifically want to sample "balut" and durian, Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri told reporters covering the event. 

"Humingi na po sila ng balut kay Speaker [Romualdez], on Saturday sa hosting ni Speaker. Magpapakain daw sila ng balut," Zubiri shared on Thursday, Nov. 23. 

(They've asked for balut from Speaker, during the Speaker’s hosting on Saturday. They said they will serve balut.) 

"They want to try balut daw and durian," stressed Zubiri, who is the current chairman of APPF31. Romualdez is the co-chairman. 

Balut and durian are popular street foods in the Philippines that are quite notorious to foreigners or the uninitiated. 

Balut is basically a hardboiled duck's egg, with the embryo inside already halfway developed. On the other hand, Durian is a tasty, fleshy fruit that has the smell of rotten eggs. 

Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus strong Philippine House of Representatives, later said that lambanog--or traditional Filipino distilled palm liquor--will also be served to the guests. 

It was evident in interviews that Romualdez wanted to leave a good impression on the parliamentarian-delegates, who hailed from countries like Vietnam, Canada, Russia, Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, and Chile. 

"Nakita niyo yung mga delegates natin sila yung mga mataas na opisyales di ba, ng mga bansa. Sila ang magiging policy-makers, sila ang gagawa ng batas, sila ang gagawa ng policies na o, 'Dito tayo sa Pilipinas mag-invest,'" the House leader said. 

(You've seen the delegates, they are the high-ranking officials from other countries. They will be the policy-makers, they will craft the laws, they will craft the policies that will say, 'Let’s invest here in the Philippines.) 

"Basta kumportable sila, secure sila dito (They are comfortable and secure here)," added Romualdez. 

The three-day forum began Thursday. 

Related Tags

durian juan miguel migz zubiri balut Martin Romualdez
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