VIP guests to be treated to a native merienda buffet after SONA

Merienda buffet menu at President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (PNA photo)

MANILA—In keeping with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s vow of a simple lifestyle for government officials under his administration, a Filipino merienda buffet will be offered to about 800 guests after the President’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

According to the list sent by the Office of Executive Director Edith Cardenas, chairperson of the Committee on Reception and Protocol, the merienda buffet will start at 5 p.m. on July 25 at the Batasang Pambansa.

Earlier, the dress code for Pres. Duterte’s upcoming SONA has been changed to “simple business attire,” a departure from the traditional grand red carpet fashion show by members of Congress and their spouses, in order to shift focus from grandiose appearance to substantive governance.

On the menu are:

Native chips: Salted duck egg dressing (on cocktail tables)

Monggo soup, smoked fish with alugbati (grissini bread)

Fresh lumpia ubod in pouch

Empanaditas (chicken and spicy tuna)

Sotong goreng

Crispy triangles of flaked chicken adobo and mushrooms/fried lumpiang ubod

Pandesal with kesong puti and beef steak

Penne with taba ng talangka sauce

Balut pate in profiteroles

Chicken skin crackling