Photos courtesy of Louise Baterna.

Filipino author-anthologist Jacqueline Chio-Lauri was in Brussels on 5 October 2024 for events that highlighted her highly acclaimed book We Cook Filipino, a compendium of heart-healthy recipies and inspiring and insightful stories from Filipino food personalities and award-winning chefs from around the world.

In the afternoon, Ms. Chio-Lauri was one of the guest speakers at the annual Writers Festival of Belgium held at the Irish College in Leuven. Her full house session was attended by international authors and guests who expressed admiration for Ms. Chio-Lauri’s success as an author but also great interest about Filipino food and the Philippines. A contingent from the Filipino Catholic Community of Leuven was also present during the session to lend their support.

Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda met Ms. Chio-Lauri over lunch at Sibz, a Filipino café in Leuven owned by three Filipino siblings, before the latter’s speaking engagement. Cultural Officer Virginia T. Abad was present during the author’s session at the Festival.

On the evening of the same day, Ms. Chio-Lauri was in Brussels for a “meet and greet” with the Filipino community in Brussels at Filipino-owned Good Phil Café. Among the attendees was famous Filipino-Belgian chef and sommelier Glen Raemakers who was one of the personalities featured in Chio-Lauri’s book. Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General Pablito A. Mendoza delivered welcome remarks at the meet and greet.

Ms. Chio-Lauri signed copies of We Cook Filipino at both the events in Leuven and Brussels.

Ms. Louise Baterna and her organization, The Philippine Art and Culture Exchange (PACE) of which she is founder and President, were the moving forces behind Jacqueline Chio-Lauri’s visit to Belgium and her highly successful participation in the Writers Festival of Belgium.