ANDORRA
A Taste of Filipino cuisine, hospitality, and music in the Principality of Andorra Text by Filipinobaritone
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cross Asia, Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and Africa, it is impossible not to have a single Filipino inhabitant. Currently, there are 193 member countries of the United Nations, among them is the Principality of Andorra, atop the Pyrénées, landlocked between France and Spain. It is one of the few microstates in the world along with the Principality of Monaco, San Marino, The Vatican City, and Liechtenstein. The Principality of Andorra is one of the oldest countries in Europe; a rich country with one of the lowest taxes, lowest crime rates and highest life-expectancies in the world. It has a population of around 77,355 of which an estimated 1,000 are Filipinos. Among the Filipinos living and thriving in this beautiful Principality are Filipino restaurant owner Dina Adajar Sandoval, Geriatric Nurse Connie Cris Tagupa, Pianist/Organist and soon-to-be Priest, Jerrick Banzuela. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, these Filipinos extended their help to the community and shared the warm hospitality that Filipinos are known for. First is Dhina Adajar Sandoval, 43 years old, manager and owner of the Filipino restaurant FIESTA MANILA at Parròquia d’Encamp. She moved from Barcelona to the Principality of Andorra 10 years ago because her husband
worked in a hotel in Andorra during the winter season. In 2016, they opened FIESTA MANILA because they observed that most cuisines served in this area are either Portuguese or Andorran. At first, they encountered so many challenges as they were the first to introduce Filipino food in Andorra. There are other Asian restaurants in the Principality thus, the competition is quite steep. What separates them from the competition is the way they treat their customers with their warm smiles and making them experience the Filipino culture, treating them like their own family. The restaurant is also a fusion of traditional Filipino food like sisig, crispy pata, pancit, lumpia as well as Japanese, Thai, Korean and local Andorran/ Catalan food. Not only do they promote Filipino food but also a glimpse of the
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