26/05/2026
PTIC Singapore and the Philippine Embassy had a meaningful conversation over lunch and tea with Ms. Violet Oon, one of Singapore’s most respected icons and voices in food and culture.
Ms. Violet Oon shared memories of her visits to the Philippines — from tasting Guimaras mangoes to learning how traditional tsokolate batirol in the Visayas is made — as we exchanged ideas on the richness and diversity of Philippine food heritage, and the many ways these stories can continue reaching wider regional and global audiences.
It was also a pleasure letting her sample products from several Philippine exhibitors from the recently concluded Food and Hospitality Asia in Singapore, to continue conversations on how Filipino flavors, ingredients, and food traditions can find greater appreciation internationally — including how some of these ingredients and products could potentially be incorporated into future Violet Oon concepts and offerings.
We also discussed Singapore’s experience in preserving and celebrating Peranakan cuisine and culture through strong storytelling and advocates like the Violet Oon concept, alongside the Philippines’ own deeply rooted and equally vibrant culinary traditions.
Today, Violet Oon Singapore’s culinary concepts have themselves become part of Singapore’s food landscape — from the iconic National Kitchen by Violet Oon at the National Gallery Singapore to her restaurant concepts and Bibik Violet branches across the city — helping introduce heritage cuisine to both new generations and international audiences.
A meaningful exchange overall, and a reminder of the many possible collaborations ahead in further elevating and sharing Southeast Asian food heritage with the world!
DTI Foreign Trade Service Corps
DTI Export Marketing Bureau
Philippine Embassy in Singapore
