Namaste to success: Filipinos making their mark in India

New Delhi, India — A country that is home to over 1.4 billion people is now becoming a place of opportunities and dreams for some Filipinos.

Around 3,500 Filipinos are living throughout the entire subcontinent, comprising professionals and those who married Indian nationals.

The number of Filipinos in India may be small compared to the population of Filipino migrants in other countries, but this has not stopped our kababayans from pursuing their dreams in the South Asian country.

Chef August: The Father of Modern Sushi in India

Augusto Cabrera has been making waves after introducing his version of sushi in a very “modern way” to the Indian market.

Cabrera has been working in India for 20 years and has operated at least 10 restaurants as an executive chef.

“Maganda rito wala silang racial discrimination, lahat ng tingin nila sa Pilipino okay matataas ba respeto sa atin,” said Cabrera in an interview with NewsWatch Plus.

[Translation: It’s nice here because there’s no racial discrimination; they have a high regard for Filipinos, and they show us a lot of respect.]

Cabrera recently teamed up with an Indian entrepreneur to open a new restaurant named “Boya” in New Delhi, offering a fusion of Filipino, Japanese, and Peruvian cuisines.

“He's well known in the food industry in New Delhi. A lot of them call him the father of sushi, so he has made a good name for himself,” said Bhawya Sahu, Cabrera’s business partner.

The 38-year-old chef has also gained praise from Bollywood, Hollywood, and sports personalities in India for his culinary masterpieces.

“Masarap bilang isang Pinoy kasi bihira mga Pilipino rito kaya masarap ang pakiramdam lalo na ibang lahi yun na-appreciate nila na gawang Pilipino,” he added.

[Translation: It feels great as a Filipino because there are rarely Filipinos here, so it feels nice, especially when people of other nationalities appreciate Filipino-made products.]

From Motherhood to Art

37-year-old Leslie Ferre Foteda told NewsWatch Plus that it took some time before she finally embraced Indian culture after marrying her husband 10 years ago.

“It will either make or break you,” she said.

Foteda, a mother of two, now displays some of her artworks at the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi.

“Ang rason kung bakit ipinakita ang obra na iyon dahil gustong ipakita ang kwento ng isang ina na nagsusumikap na maging maayos magkaroon ng peace of mind at higit sa lahat ipakita na hindi ka basta nanay meron ka something na gustong ipakita pang iba,” said Foteda.

[Translation: The reason that work was showcased was to tell the story of a mother striving to find peace of mind and, above all, to show that you are not just a mother — you have something else you want to share.]

Fotedar hopes that more Filipinas in India will be able to find their passion amid a diverse cultural environment.

Philippine Ambassador to India Josel Ignacio believes much has yet to be explored when it comes to Philippine-India cultural ties.

“Kailangan pala ng dalawang bansa ng sort of rediscovery of each other we always thought that we know each other pero hindi pa pala,” said Ignacio.

[Translation: The two nations have to embark on a sort of rediscovery of each other - we always thought that we know each other but in hindsight, we’re not yet there.]