During President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s official visit to Tokyo, he shared a light-hearted diplomatic moment with Emperor Naruhito of Japan involving the popular Filipino dessert halo-halo.

According to Marcos, the emperor is not only familiar with the dessert but reportedly enjoys it, having been introduced to it by Filipino friends in the past.

This shared appreciation became a symbolic talking point during their state interactions, which Marcos described as contributing to a warmer and more personal connection between the two leaders.

As part of the gesture, Marcos gifted the emperor a glass and a long spoon, along with a handwritten recipe for halo-halo, encouraging the imperial chef to prepare it.

The President explained that since the emperor typically only eats food prepared by his own chef, the recipe served as a practical and respectful way to share the dessert experience.

Marcos also recalled that Emperor Naruhito mentioned his long-standing connections with Filipino friends, which helped him develop a fondness for the dessert.

Beyond food, Marcos said their conversations also touched on shared experiences in Oxford University and mutual appreciation for music, noting that both the emperor and empress are music enthusiasts.The meeting was described as warm and informal in tone, reflecting personal commonalities between the Philippine and Japanese leaders.

In a notable moment after the official call, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako reportedly approached members of the media for small talk, an unusual departure from the typically strict imperial protocol.

The interaction was seen as further highlighting the cordial atmosphere of the state engagement and the strengthening of Philippines–Japan relations through both formal diplomacy and personal cultural exchange.