Pasay City:The Philippines demonstrated its ability to host large international events as it soft-opened the International Media Center (IMC) for foreign and local media covering the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings this week.

According to Philippines News Agency, the IMC, located inside the World Trade Center in Pasay City, includes several briefing rooms, podcast and television studios, as well as media broadcast and audio booths. The Philippine Pavilion at Hall B features a Filipino beverage/coffee space and a Boracay-inspired health and wellness station offering traditional 'hilot' massages to delegates.

An Intramuros-inspired Filipino street setup connects the main halls of the World Trade Center to Hall D, which hosts the One Town, One Product (OTOP) exhibit. The exhibit showcases local products from across the archipelago, 'Gastronomy Kiosks,' and the Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) snail mail booths. The 'Pinoy Kalye' feature provides delegates a taste of Filipino everyday life, including shopping at a 'sari-sari store' and enjoying the classic Filipino street dessert, taho.

Tourism Assistant Secretary Ina Zara-Loyola emphasized the importance of showcasing the Philippines to delegates, with the goal of providing them a glimpse of the country's culture and iconic regional dishes. Michelin-recognized chefs Francis Lacson and Miguel Cabel Moreno are curating the gastronomy kiosks to highlight iconic Filipino dishes from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

ASEAN National Organizing Council Assistant Director-General Hazel Abad highlighted that the IMC's soft opening underscores the Philippines' capacity to host large international events by providing quality venues and services. The IMC is expected to accommodate around 2,000 local and foreign press members during the summit week from November 13 to 17.