30/07/2026
𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗬 𝗜𝗡 𝗕𝗨𝗗𝗔𝗣𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗪𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗦, 𝗚𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗠𝗬, 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗛𝗢𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛 “𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗬 𝗔𝗧 𝗞𝗪𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗨𝗛𝗔𝗡”
BUDAPEST, 30 June 2026 – The Philippine Embassy in Budapest, in commemoration of the 128th Anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence, hosted "𝗧𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗵𝗮𝗻: 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘀, 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀, 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻" on 30 June 2026 at Barako Bistro & Bar in Budapest. The event brought together members of the diplomatic corps, the Filipino community, and the Embassy's partners from the business sector and civil society for an evening celebrating Filipino hospitality, culture, and premium Philippine spirits.
In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Maria Elena P. Algabre introduced guests to the uniquely Filipino tradition of “tagay”, the custom of sharing a drink among family and friends as a gesture of camaraderie and fellowship. She explained that tagay is inseparable from “kwentuhan”, or the sharing of stories and conversations, which together embody the Filipino values of warmth, openness, and community.
"Tagay at Kwentuhan” reflects the Filipino way of building connections and strengthening relationships over good food, good drinks, and good company," Ambassador Algabre said as she invited guests to experience an evening of Filipino flavors and hospitality.
A highlight of the event was the Philippine Cocktail Showcase led by Mr. Ryan Andres, Filipino owner of Barako Bistro & Bar, featuring signature cocktails crafted with premium Philippine spirits from Destileria Limtuaco, the country's oldest distillery, established in 1850. The showcase celebrated the rich heritage of Philippine craftsmanship and highlighted the quality and versatility of Filipino-made spirits in contemporary mixology.
The showcase demonstrated the versatility and quality of Philippine-made spirits through a curated selection of cocktails, including Mabuhay Mango, featuring Mango Rum Paradise Liqueur; Calamansi Mojito, made with Manille Liqueur de Calamansi; Brandy Tini, using Napoleon VSOP Brandy; Crema de Barako, using Empire Gin and Amadeo Coffee Liqueur; Ube Colada, made with Palawan Tropical Rum; and Dark Island, featuring Very Old Captain Dark Rum.
These locally crafted spirits and liqueurs were made using indigenous ingredients such as mango, calamansi, coffee, and sugarcane, highlighting the exceptional craftsmanship and innovation of Filipino producers. More than showcasing unique flavors, they celebrated the Philippines' rich agricultural heritage and reflected the country's dynamic and growing artisanal beverage industry.
Guests also enjoyed Philippine-inspired mocktails, namely Boracay Sunrise, Virgin Calamansi Mojito, and Manila Samalamig, inspired by popular Filipino street refreshments.
The beverages were paired with a selection of Filipino street food and traditional delicacies, including chicken lumpia, pork barbecue, kwek-kwek, fish balls, empanada, and sapin-sapin. This culinary spread allowed guests to experience the rich flavors and diversity of Philippine culinary traditions, from beloved street food favorites to classic Filipino desserts.
Through initiatives such as Tagay at Kwentuhan, the Philippine Embassy in Budapest continues to advance cultural diplomacy by showcasing Philippine heritage, celebrating Filipino gastronomy, promoting Philippine products and businesses, and fostering meaningful dialogue and people-to-people exchanges with Hungary and the international community. These initiatives underscore the vital role of cultural diplomacy in enhancing mutual understanding, deepening cultural appreciation, and creating opportunities to strengthen economic and commercial linkages between the Philippines and Hungary. END
