Pinoy food featured in Madrid bazaar for Queen's charities

Dried mangoes, mango rind, and other Philippine sweets were featured in the recently-concluded "Kermes 2012" bazaar in Madrid for Spanish charity projects. The bazaar, whose proceeds were donated to the Queen Sofia Foundation and other Spanish charities for women and children in need, was held at the Palacio Municipal de Congresos on April 14.   In a news release, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said: “Philippine food items such as dried mangoes, mango rind, polvoron, pastillas de leche, and turrones de casuy were among the most popular items sold at the Philippine booth." The Embassy also sold Filipiniana items made from mother of pearl, capiz, carabao horn, banig, abaca, silk cocoon, and piña. Kermes is an annual bazaar organized by the Association of International Diplomats in Spain (AIDE), a non-profit group composed of spouses of diplomats accredited to Spain. Isabelita Salinas, wife of Ambassador Carlos Salinas, led the Embassy´s participation in Kermes.   While Queen Sofia, the group’s honorary patron, was unable to attend this year’s event, her daughter Princess Elena was present at Kermes.   Princess Elena visited the Philippine booth and admired the display of Philippine products, the DFA said.   The Embassy also participated in the cultural program through a fashion show organized by the Association of the Diplomatic Ladies of Asia and Australia in Madrid (ADLAAM).   The fashion show featured the traditional dresses of the Philippines, Bangladesh, Japan and Indonesia. - VVP, GMA News