Bubur Lambuk: Sharing a Ramadan Tradition (Makati City, Metro Manila)

 

Bubur lambuk

Last Tuesday, March 10, in the spirit of the holy, fasting month of Ramadan, the Embassy of Malaysia in Manila celebrated the tradition of sharing and community (gotong-royong) during Ramadan by preparing and sharing the traditional bubur lambuk at the Malaysian ambassador’s residence (1487 Carissa Street, Dasmariñas Village, Makati City).

 

Ambassador Dato' Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino

His Excellency Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato' Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino hosted the event which highlights a long-standing tradition where the Malaysian embassy shares this special dish with friends, government officials, partners, and the community to promote unity and friendship and foster strong bilateral relations between Malaysia and the Philippines. 

 

Media guests

According to the ambassador, “preparing bubur lambuk is not just about cooking—it is a symbol of community unity. The way bubur lambuk is prepared is a community affair, where we bring together friends and community members to cook this delicious porridge and distribute it to our friends, families, and colleagues in the community.” 

 

Chef Amnar Syafig Bin Ayob

He added that “activities like this strengthen understanding, respect, and peace between Malaysia and the Philippines. It is a truly cultural exercise of bonding, mutual understanding, respect, tolerance, and peaceful co-existence. I hope that during this month of Ramadan, this spirit of peace, reflection, and helping the marginalized continues.”

 

Bubur lambuk ingredients

Bubur lambuk is a well-known traditional, savory Malaysian rice porridge dish designed to be nourishing for breaking the fast during the month of Ramadan in Malaysia. It is made with rice, meat (beef), spices, coconut milk and various vegetables, and is often distributed to family and friends.  This year's bubur lambuk was shared with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., Cabinet Secretaries, members of the Congress, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and friends of Malaysia.

The cooking demonstration

Mr. Amnar Syafig Bin Ayob, the prominent embassy chef, together with embassy staff, prepared the dish.  Responsible for culinary diplomacy, promoting Malaysian cuisine, he frequently collaborates and works closely, for events, with Malaysian and Filipino chefs, including Chef Edwin Santos of Makati Shangri-La and Chef Miguel Cabel Moreno, to foster diplomatic ties through food.  Last November 2025, he recently led a two-week Malaysian gastronomic showcase at Circles Event Café, Makati Shangri-La in featuring dishes like rojak pasembur, nasi minyak, and mee kari.

 

Ready to serve bubur lambuk.....

He demonstrated the traditional cooking process of bubur lambuk which takes around three hours. They started the process at 8 AM. The ingredients used were similar to Filipino lugaw - onions, garlic, lemongrass, salt and, for aroma they used pandan, chives and cilantro. They also used jasmine rice for the congee and coconut milk. 

Mr. Mohd Faizal Sharip, Malaysian Tourism Attaché and Director, emphasized the importance of tourism ties between Malaysia and the Philippines, including the exchange of culture, food, and experiences, saying “In terms of tourism, it’s not only tourism but also culture. We can promote and introduce food, tourism, and gastronomy relations—Philippine food delicacies in Malaysia and Malaysian promotions in the Philippines.” 

 

Bubur lambuk being packed for distribution and sharing

Highlighting the importance of the Philippines as a key tourism partner of Malaysia, Mohd Faizal Sharip added, “In terms of overall tourist arrivals in Malaysia, the Philippines ranks seventh. That shows how important the Philippines is to the Malaysian market. Even though our major markets are Singapore, Thailand, China, and India, the Philippines remains an important partner in the Southeast Asian region.”  

This Ramadan, aside from the preparation and sharing of bubur lambuk, the Malaysian Embassy also carried out various activities including corporate social responsibility initiatives for communities and schools in the Philippines. Malaysian tourism officials also announced the upcoming Philippine–Malaysia Culinary Exchange, at the end of April, which will feature a Malaysian food promotion at Solaire Resort, Entertainment City, introducing traditional Malaysian cuisine to Filipinos. Simultaneously, a Philippine food promotion will be held in Malaysia to showcase Filipino cuisine and delicacies to the Malaysian market.