Consulate Holds Halo-Halo Making Activity for Japanese Students

            The Consulate General of the Philippines in Nagoya kicked off the summer season in Japan on Saturday, 22 June 2024, with a halo-halo preparation and presentation activity dubbed, “Cooling Off Filipino Style.” The inter-cultural activity was participated in by Japanese and other foreign students of Nanzan University under the English class of Ms. Abegail Capitin-Principe.

            Halo-halo is an iconic Filipino concoction made from a mix of shaved ice, nata de coco, sugar palm fruit, sago, sweet beans, ube (purple yam, milk), leche flan, ice cream, and other sweet tropical ingredients that make for a colorful and refreshing treat during the summer. The word “halo-halo” means “mix” in English. Filipino food historians trace the origins of halo-halo to the Japanese kakigori, a concoction of shaved ice, syrup, and milk, which was sold in the Philippines by the Japanese in the pre-war years.

            The activity introduced the students to the history and evolution of the halo-halo to become the Philippines’ well-loved dessert and refreshment. It also familiarized the students with halo-halo’s unique Filipino ingredients such as the nata de coco, ube, and macapuno, which give it a truly Filipino flavor and character. Finally, the students were given the opportunity to make their own halo-halo and enjoy their creation with a piece of crunchy barquillos.