Typhoon Yolanda Fundraising Dinner, Swiss Residence, Manila

On Wednesday evening, a major fundraising dinner was held at the Swiss Residence in Forbes Park, Manila, to benefit the work of a Swiss charity (ALPS), which is working directly with the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (a.k.a. Typhoon Haiyan).  

The guests focus on the superb Filipino food

Regee was one of the principal organizers and here is what she had to say:

"The Tulong-Tulong Dinner to benefit Typhoon Yolanda victims raised more than P330,000 (and counting)!!  All the food, drinks, work and services were donated, so every cent of the money raised went to the relief efforts. Special thanks to the indefatigable leader of the pack, Amy Besa, for spearheading the series of fundraising dinners.

The dinner was a resounding success. Everything went like clockwork: the food was beyond amazing (thanks to the volunteer chefs and cook staff), the setting was magical, and there was a lot of love and generosity all around. Thanks to Ambassador Ivo Sieber and his wife Gracita Tolentino Sieber, for being our generous and gracious hosts. Their donated Swiss wine flowed all night. Thanks to the whole team for all the hard work, all to benefit our kababayans!"

Amy thanks the guest chefs for their remarkable dinner

Of course it went like "clockwork".  We are talking Swiss here and some of Manila's finest chefs!  Among the well-known guest chefs (who so generously donated their time and culinary skills to produce a magnificent dinner for about 60 guests) were: JJ Yulo, Gretchen and Alvin Lim, Erwin Lizarondo, Joseph Galvez, Namee Sunico, Jutes and Cello Templo.

Amy Besa and our dear Ambassador Ivo

The dinner was brought about by the amazing drive, organization, social and diplomatic skills of three very remarkable and determined women:  Amy Besa, the head of Ang Sariling Atin Culinary Heritage Institute (ASA), seen here with Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber who kindly agreed to hold the dinner at the Swiss Residence and.......

Madame Gracita proposes a toast

........Madame Gracita Tolentino Sieber, the Manila hostess with the mostest and....

Regee, Mama, Ada and Angie

................her sister, my lovely wife, Regina (Regee) Tolentino Newport, head of Culinary Historians of the Philippines (CHOP).  This is only one of two photos of Regee because she was busy running around taking all the other photos in this posting.  Thank you--a great organizer and Kodaker!  Sitting with her are Mama and Regee's sister Ada (both founding members of CHOP), and sister-in-law, Angie.

Stirring the pot

A lot of hard work went on in the kitchen.  Regee tells me that they were such a cheerful and lovable group of chefs.  I suppose the old English saw that "too many cooks spoil the broth" does not apply in the Philippines.  Just look--they were all smiles. 

Cutting the bananas

Many of these chefs have also given tremendous support to ASA and CHOP and, together with Ivo, Gracita, Amy and Regee, will now be forever blessed by all those who receive help from ALPS (Aid Line Philippine Swiss).

Before the food storm--the dining room is being prepared.

Do you want to know what they had to eat?  Well, here is the menu:

TULONG TULONG PARA SA PILIPINAS!

Ang Sariling Atin Culinary Heritage Institute (ASA)

Culinary Historians of the Philippines (CHOP)

H.E. Ivo Sieber and Mrs. Gracita Tolentino Sieber

Aid Line Philippine Swiss (ALPS), Inc.

FUNDRAISING DINNER

For the Victims of Typhoon Yolanda

Wednesday, November 20, 2013, 6:00 p.m.

Swiss Residence

M   E   N   U

Burrata di Bufala

Laing Shiitake Mushroom Tarts

Chistorra Chorizo

Lamb Adobo

Goat Curry in Handmade Lumpia Wrapper

(with Guyabano Chutney, Papaya Atsara & Fried Saba)

Chicken Sarap Inasal (Grilled Chicken)

Garlic Fried Rice

Crab Meat & Aligue Pasta

Local Greens Salad with Philippine Citrus Dressing

Kalamansi Pie

Tablea/Cashew & Almond/Dayap Biscotti

Sorbetero Ice Cream

Iced Tea

Coffee

Swiss Wines

Tapuy (Rice Wine)

Guest Chefs:  JJ Yulo, Gretchen & Alvin Lim, Erwin Lizarondo,

Joseph Galvez, Namee Sunico, Jutes & Cello Templo

Organizers:  Amy Besa, Gracita Tolentino Sieber, Regina Tolentino Newport

Goat Curry--then wrapped in handmade lumpia--masarap!

I myself like the look of that Goat Curry (soon to be placed in handmade lumpia wrappers with guyabano chutney, fried saba and papaya atsara), not to mention the Kalamansi Pie.  I am drooling as I type this!

But it was not all eating.  The Head of the UN High Commission for Refugees, Bernard Kerblat, evidently spoke very movingly about the plight of the victims.  

In an e-mail, Gracita told me: "the dinner last night was very special and unlike all the dinners we've ever hosted before.  People were teary-eyed when our speaker, the Head of the UNHCR in the Philippines, spoke.  I realized how little I knew about the facts of this disaster when I heard his talk. Thanks to Ivo for finding an amazing speaker and that the guy was available. He has barely slept since the day after Yolanda's landfall".

Another speaker, Bea Misa Crisostomo, talked about climate change and how much this was contributing to hyper destructive typhoons like Yolanda/Haiyan.  

And the head of ALPS, Reiner Gloor, spoke about the tremendous work that ALPS was doing with the victims of Yolanda.  

Ivo was the MC, Amy introduced and thanked the guest chefs and Gracita raised a toast. Regee spoke about CHOP (which she founded) and how Amy Besa had been such a great factor in sending its membership from 7 to 40 after being the first guest speaker to address a public CHOP meeting.  CHOP is on a roll.

From a great distance, but feeling very close in spirit, we salute all the organizers, the gracious hosts, those generous guest chefs and the equally generous donors.  What a wonderful thing you have all done.

The hosts and some of the guests, organizers and chefs.
CONGRATULATIONS!