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PHL AMBASSADORS GO ON ILOILO APPRECIATION TOUR
Clockwise from top left : (1) Philippine Ambassadors to Europe and DFA-OEA Officers pose in front of the historical Santa Barbara Parish Church and Convent in the town of Santa Barbara, Iloilo. The church, constructed from 1849 to 1870, was declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2013; (2) Philippine Ambassadors to Europe pose with Miag-ao Mayor Macario N. Napulan MD. To their back are posters depicting tourists spots and heritage sites in tht town of Miag-ao, (3) The Ambassadors had dinner with several officials from Iloilo provinvce and were briefed on the different investment opportunities available in Iloilo, (4) Santa Barbara Mayor Dennis S. Superficial MD greets the Ambassadors upon their arrival
Eight Philippine Ambassadors to Europe visited Iloilo from January 14 to 15 to discover how they can better promote Iloilo, and the Western Visayas Region as a whole, as a tourism and investment destination.
Iloilo, home to well-preserved Spanish-era Baroque churches, turn-of-the-century ancestral houses, a rich culinary tradition and the Dinagyang festival, is also fast transforming itself into a business hub with the construction of a convention center and other commercial developments geared towards retail and the IT-BPO industry.
The local government has also invested heavily in infrastructure, constructing roads, bike lanes, a new airport and power plants to ensure that the province is well-equipped to accommodate its rapid growth.
The Ambassadors were given a preview a of the Dinagyang festival at the Iloilo City National High School. The Dinagyang, which means merry-making in Ilonggo, is held yearly during the last week of January
The Iloilo Appreciation Tour, part of the 2016 Regional Consultation Meeting (RCM) of the DFA Office of European Affairs (OEA), was co-organized by OEA in coordination with the Office of Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, the Department of Tourism, the Office of Iloilo Governor Arthur D. Defensor, Sr., the Office of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog and the DFA Iloilo Regional Consular Office (RCO). END
Lav Diaz Film is Official Entry to this Year´s Berlinale Main Competition
Renowned Filmmaker Lav Diaz´s film “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis” (A Lullaby for the Sorrowful Mystery) has been chosen to compete in the Main Competition section of the Berlin International Film Festival 2016 (Berlinale). The movie is about the history of Filipinos and boasts of having the biggest cast ensemble in current Philippine film history. Diaz describes it as “a marriage of history, literature and mythology.” The eight-hour black and white masterpiece is set to have its world premiere on 18 February at Berlinale.
“Hele” is competing for the Golden and Silver Bear Awards alongside 15 other international films from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Sweden, United Kingdom and the USA. This year´s Berlinale Jury President is no other than three-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep. Awards night will be on 21 February.
Expanding Philippine participation at the Berlinale, five Filipino filmmakers were selected to join this year´s Berlinale Talents. Screenwriter and director Christopher Gozum, production designer and art director Jeck Cogama, director, production designer and art director Remton Siega Zuasola, cinematographer Pong Ignacio, and producer Tonee Acejo will participate in a six-day program featuring over 150 internationally renowned experts holding masterclasses and workshops. They join the roster of 300 talents who were chosen from a group of 2,761 applicants from 137 countries. END
One Heart for UNICEF Exhibit Launched in Berlin
Patrons, Artists and Commerzbank officials attended the Opening of the Exhibit “One Heart for UNICEF” at the flagship store of Commerzbank
“One Heart for UNICEF” was launched in Berlin at the flagship store of Commerzbank in Kurfürstendamm. The exhibit featured wooden heart artworks designed by 23 artists from 23 countries. Mr. Heribert Klein, director and founder of “One Heart for UNICEF” has actively sustained the project for the past 17 years in collaboration with Commerzbank. Patrons fund a 40 x 40 centimeter UNICEF heart and have it painted by artists and celebrities. Hundreds of personalities from visual artists to actors, politicians and chefs have become patrons or even painted hearts themselves. These artworks are auctioned off in aid of UNICEF projects for children in need, including relief efforts.
Jenny Friese, Executive Vice President, Martin Blessing, Chief Executive Officer of Commerzbank, Heribert Klein and Nina Ruge, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Germany, each delivered their remarks at the opening ceremony. The Philippine heart featured the artwork of Jan Perez Blanco who comes from a family of artists in Angono, Rizal.
Cultural Attaché Mylah Rubio with the Philippine heart, `A Mother´s Heart` by artist Jan Blanco from Angono, Rizal. /Photos courtesy of Commerzbank
The Berlin exhibition is part of a roadshow that had stops in Cologne, Stuttgart, Nurembeg, Munich and Hamburg. The same initiative has funded projects for children of Nepal, Syria and the Philippines. The exhibit is open to the public until 10 February 2016. The wooden artworks will be auctioned off in November 2016. END