Everything that made the APEC leaders’ meeting more fun in PHL

The Philippines just played host to the 20 world leaders who attended the 26th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM) in Manila from November 18 to 19. For the conclusion of a year-long event, the organizers made sure that the leaders and the other guests enjoyed their stay in the country.

At the end of their two-day meeting, the leaders condemned terrorism and supported inclusive growth in their 2015 Leaders' Declaration.

They also had bilateral meetings with each other where agreements and deals were signed and sealed.

But those were not the only highlights of the APEC summit.

The APEC National Organizing Committee (APEC-NOC) tried their best to impress the leaders and the guests. For instance, major roads were closed and special lanes on EDSA were assigned for the exclusive use of the APEC delegates.

Welcome dinner at MOA Arena

On November 18, the leaders and their spouses took a break from the usual APEC matters and headed to the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena for the welcome reception.

Through the creative direction of the industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue, the arena was transformed into a lush tropical garden. The usual concert and sports venue were decorated with grass-carpets, mini rice terraces, and gigantic anahaw lamps.

One of the main features of the event was Cobonpue's chair design, which was inspired by blades of grass.

 

The view from the Leaders table set up like the Philippine archipelago with First Light candleholders for Habitat for Humanity. #APEC2015 #kennethcobonpue @habitatphils

A photo posted by Kenneth Cobonpue (@kennethcobonpue) on

Nov 18, 2015 at 3:06am PST

The leaders, including United States President Barack Obama, were so impressed with the chair that one of them asked their embassy in Manila to buy some of the furniture, NOC director general Marciano Paynor shared.

Food

For the leaders' gala dinner, the organizers tapped top chefs Margarita Fores and Glenda Barretto to prepare a multi-course meal highlighting Filipino flavors for the guests.

Bistek Manilenya and (below) Maja Blanca Moderna were two of the dishes prepared by chefs Glenda Barretto and Margarita Fores for the APEC leaders.

Fores and Barreto brought out dishes such as red egg flan with rambutan vinaigrette, tinola, inasal na apahap, bistek Manilenya, and maja blanca for around 700 guests. Each dish was served with an artistic touch.

Tokens

The organizers also made sure the economic leaders did not leave the country empty-handed. They also tapped the gala's creative director to create the tokens.

Cobonpue designed a brass sculpture called "Sama-sama." It features linked human figures that represent APEC member economy's unity, partnership, and cooperation.

Each sculpture is housed in a glass dome kept in a hand-woven metal and buri case.

 

My design for the official Presidential token called Sama-sama is a sculptural narrative of APEC's cultural, social and political diversity, which represents unity, partnership and cooperation among the member economies. The detailed figures are made of brass and finished in gold, silver and copper symbolizing different races, linked to each other as they ascend to the top. Each glass-covered token is housed in a hand-woven metal and Buri (palm spine) carrying case with brass handles and clasp. #APEC2015 #designphilippines #kennethcobonpue

A photo posted by Kenneth Cobonpue (@kennethcobonpue) on

Nov 13, 2015 at 4:20am PST

 

My design for the official Presidential token called Sama-sama is a sculptural narrative of APEC's cultural, social and political diversity, which represents unity, partnership and cooperation among the member economies. The detailed figures are made of brass and finished in gold, silver and copper symbolizing different races, linked to each other as they ascend to the top. Each glass-covered token is housed in a hand-woven metal and Buri (palm spine) carrying case with brass handles and clasp. #APEC2015 #designphilippines #kennethcobonpue

A photo posted by Kenneth Cobonpue (@kennethcobonpue) on

Nov 13, 2015 at 4:19am PST

The leaders' spouses who joined their trip to Manila also received souvenirs from the APEC organizers.

Design consultant and furniture designer Ito Kish designed a special line of stark white cups and saucers made of fine bone china. Each souvenir featured a bahay kubo on the cup, and a carabao on the saucer.

 

Made of Fine Bone China and locally manufactured, the Kristina Bukid set of 8 cup & saucer with design details of Philippine rural life showcasing the bahay kubo, carabao and coconut tree will be the gift of President Aquino to the spouses of the APEC 2015 heads of states. #apec2015

A photo posted by Ito Kish (@itokish) on

Nov 16, 2015 at 4:08am PST

Barong Tagalog, piña jackets

The APEC leaders' meeting is never complete without a class photo of the heads of state wearing the host country's traditional wear.

Fashion designer Paul Cabral created barong Tagalog for the gentlemen and piña jackets for the ladies. Each member economy got a unique design for their piña tops. For instance, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe had cherry blossom designs on their Cabral creations, while China President Xi Jinping had bamboo designs on his.

Spouses' luncheon in Intramuros
Since President Benigno Aquino III is a bachelor, his sisters—Ballsy, Pinky, Viel and Kris—were tasked to host the luncheon for the spouses of the economic leaders.

Nagsimula na ang pagpapasyal sa presidential spouses sa Intramuros, Maynila sa pangunguna ng Aquino sisters. @dzbb pic.twitter.com/28e4HovKjY

— Glen Juego (@glenjuego) November 19, 2015

They were joined by spouses of the economic leaders of Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Kris was requested by Mexico to be the presidential sibling to accompany its leader, President Enrique Peña Nieto, when he arrived in the Philippines.

The #APEChotties

While the heads of state started to arrive in Manila earlier this week, Filipino netizens could not help but notice that two of the economic leaders are absolute head-turners. They are Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose good looks inspired the hashtag #APEChottie.

The netizens adored them so much that memes were created to showcase their beauty. Others even compared the two leaders to Disney princes. Trudeau in particular, with his recent rise to the premiership and his colorful past, has become a social media favorite.

But not everyone was amused. There were those who reminded the public not to fall for their good looks alone. Newly installed Trudeau is yet to prove his leadership, while Nieto has been linked to several scandals and corruption allegations. — Trisha Macas/BM, GMA News