The Berjaya-Malaysia Friendship Open Cup Press Conference (Makati City, Metro Manila)

The 2026 Berjaya-Malaysia Friendship Open Cup press conference (photo: George Buid)

On November 28, 2026, Saturday, the annual Berjaya-Malaysia Friendship Open Cup, organized by Malaysia Friendship Golf (MYFG), will take place at the Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club (a par 72, 18 to 36-hole championship parkland course) in Prado Sionco, Lubao, Pampanga. Now on its fourth edition, it is an annual charity golf tournament hosted in the Philippines by the Embassy of Malaysia in Manila and the Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industries Philippines (MCCI), a non-profit organization. Malaysia is the first ASEAN member to have a business chamber in the Philippines.

 

Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club (photo: Facebook Page)

Last October 30, 2026, Friday, his Excellency Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castellino, the Ambassador of Malaysia to the Philippines, together with Mr. Stephen Khaw (MYFG Chairman and MCCI Founder and Chairman), Mr. How Han Hui (President of MCCI) and Mr. Leo Laca (Berjaya Philippines, Inc. Resources Director), officially announced the opening of the Berjaya-Malaysia Friendship Open 2026 to invited members of online and print media during a press conference held at the Malaysia Banquet Hall of the Malaysian Embassy in Makati.

 

Ambassador Abdul Malik Melvin Castellino (photo: Mr. George Buid)

Berjaya Philippines, Inc., which has historically joined and supported the gathering alongside other regional businesses and hospitality groups, is again a major sponsor.  This year’s tournament’s competing pool, comprising approximately 288 participants, includes members of the diplomatic corps, government officials, corporate executives and golf enthusiasts from Malaysia, the Philippines and the broader international community based in the Philippines.

 

Mr. Stephen Khaw (photo: Mr. George Buid)

As with past tournaments, all proceeds from this year’s tournament will be directed towards charitable initiatives and humanitarian efforts, providing much-needed assistance and emergency relief to vulnerable communities affected by natural calamities and disasters. Stephen Khaw emphasized that 100% of the proceeds will be channeled to corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs under the auspices of the Embassy of Malaysia and the MCCI.

 

Mr. How Han Hui (photo: Mr. George Buid)

Last year’s event garnered a total of 1.5 million pesos in corporate social responsibility funds, leading to over 11 immediate relief programs that aided different communities around the country hit by torrential floods. 

During the press conference, Ambassador Castellino stated, in a message, that “Every swing that golfers take contributes directly to rebuilding lives and helping communities recover.” Highlighting a need for future support, especially as the Philippines is set to face the onset of a “Super” El Niño in the coming months, Castellino added that “Beyond that, we also hope to see how we can develop these communities to build stronger resilience and capacity.”

 

Mr. Leo Laca (photo: Mr. George Buid)

The ambassador also underscored the event’s significance in promoting goodwill, sportsmanship and cross-border collaboration. The tournament aims to serve as a platform for fostering stronger partnerships, mutual understanding and unity across diverse cultures and communities. Beyond the golf course, the event seeks to encourage meaningful, long-term connections that will leave a lasting positive impact.

 

The prime movers of the Berjaya-Malaysia Friendship Open.....

The Embassy of Malaysia in Manila again anticipates that this tournament will serve as an effective platform for building connections between Filipino and Malaysian businesses, as well as the international community. This will foster the establishment of lasting ties that will be advantageous for both Malaysia and the Philippines, while also enhancing collaboration across all sectors.

The trophies to be awarded to the winners

The Berjaya-Malaysia Friendship Open 2026 aims to establish better connections between the two countries in a shared commitment to peace, economic cooperation, and cultural exchange. The 2026 tournament carries added significance as it coincides with the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship, highlighting the country’s leadership in promoting regional unity and cooperation across Southeast Asia. It also complements Malaysia’s ongoing tourism promotion efforts under Visit Malaysia Year 2026–2027, which seek to welcome more international visitors and strengthen regional tourism ties.  Together, these initiatives reflect the shared commitment of both countries to promoting peace, economic cooperation and cultural exchange.

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.

Hotel and Inn Review: Dorsett Regency Hotel (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Date of Stay: December 28, 2010 - January 1, 2011

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: *******

Rooms: ********

Condition and Cleanliness: ********

Staff Performance: *******

Room Comfort: ********

Food and Beverage: ********

Other Amenities: ********

Value for Money: *******

Dorsett Regency Hotel is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle.  Its 30 sq. m. (322.9 sq. ft.) Deluxe Room has 2 double beds, 32-inch flat-screen LCD satellite TV, minibar, in-room safety deposit box, coffee/tea making facility and bath. The hotel also has 38 sq. m. (409 sq. ft.) Deluxe Premier Rooms an,d  45 sq. m. (484.3 sq. ft.) Junior Suites.

Deluxe Room 

Its food and beverage outlets include  the lobby level, 80-pax Window’s Cafe and Lounge (with its dedicated bar), the first floor, 150-pax, all day (6 AM-1 AM) Checker’s Cafe and, beside it, is the cozy, 25 pax Cellini’s Italian Restaurant.  

Checkers Cafe

The hotel also has a swimming pool (4th floor), 4 function rooms (10-200-pax), gym and offers limousine service, tours, concierge, valet, laundry, dry cleaning, pressing and 24-hour room service. The hotel was a stone’s throw away from KL’s finest shopping malls (Pavilion, Star Hill, Lot 10, Sungei Wang, Berjaya Times Square and Low Yat Plaza), eateries, tourist and entertainment spots.

Dorsett Regency Hotel: 172 Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  Tel: 603-2716 1000.  Fax: 603-2715 5000.  E-mail: reservations.kl@dorsettregency.com.my. Website: www.dorsetthotels.com/malaysia/kualalumpur/.