It was a night of music and dancing, drinks, and a feast of Swiss cuisine, as Marco Polo Plaza Cebu celebrated the Swiss National Day in Cebu City in keeping with an almost decade-old tradition.

The dinner party last Saturday, August 8, was held near the end of a nine-day Cafe Marco culinary journey dubbed Swissness from A-Z featuring authentic Swiss food prepared by hotel executive chef Stefano Verillo.

NIGHT OF CHEESE. With Swiss cuisine known for its cheese, the fare was aplenty during the celebration.
NIGHT OF CHEESE. With Swiss cuisine known for its cheese, the fare was aplenty during the celebration.

Switzerland is known for its cheese varieties and there was a lot to go around during the celebration, not to mention the cheese fondue and other cheese-based dishes.

Swiss favorites

Marco Polo also featured other Swiss favorites, from meat and sausages to desserts like apple flan, almond tart, and Kirschtorte.

Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber said Switzerland commemorates several historical milestones this year as it celebrated its 724th founding day on August 1, 2015. He cited battleground victories of the Swiss Confederation’s founding cantons in the late 14th century.

With history as its guide, Switzerland is well prepared to chart the future despite the challenges in Europe, he said.

SMOKED HAM, MEAT LOAF were served during the event, which also marked the end of the nine-day Cafe Marco culinary journey dubbed Swissness from A-Z.
SMOKED HAM, MEAT LOAF were served during the event, which also marked the end of the nine-day Cafe Marco culinary journey dubbed Swissness from A-Z.

Hotel tradition

The Swiss ambassador to the Philippines, who will soon be leaving for a new posting in Thailand, called on Swiss nationals in Cebu to vote in Switzerland’s federal elections this October. In a recorded message, Swiss Confederation President Simonetta Sommaruga made the same call to the around 800,000 Swiss people living abroad including the Philippines.

Julie Najar, Marco Polo general manager, said the Swiss National Day celebration at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu was a tradition started nine years ago by former hotel GM Hans Hauri. She added at the start of celebration that she hoped the Swiss community in Cebu would enjoy the fabulous banquet, games, entertainment, and exciting raffle prizes the hotel has prepared for them.

SAYING GOODBYE. Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber tells the room he will be leaving for a new posting in Thailand. He also asked Swiss nationals in Cebu to vote in Switzerland's federal elections this October.
SAYING GOODBYE. Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber tells the room he will be leaving for a new posting in Thailand. He also asked Swiss nationals in Cebu to vote in Switzerland’s federal elections this October.

Marlen is the editor of MyCebu.ph and co-founder of Cebu-based journalism startup InnoPub Media.

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