April is the time of the year when the European Union celebrates its founding. The EU Delegation, EU Member States’ Embassies and the EU Cultural Institutes (Instituto Cervantes, Alliance Francaise De Manille, Goethe Institut, Phil. Italian Association) all come together to provide a plethora of activities. A great majority of them are free and open to the public. They range from concerts, music competitions, film festivals, plays, poetry readings and even book fests.
Viva Europa – owes its name to both European and Filipino histories. Coming from the ancient Latin root word vivat (life) and its derivative vivere, meaning to live. Viva, for Filipinos can translate to Mabuhay a form of salutation and welcome.
from right: EU Amb Franz Jessen and Romanian Amb. Mihai Shion; Alba’s Restaurant, April 8, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista
In the Philippines, it began as Europe Day, which was expanded to Europe week and grew into Europe Month in 2005. This year marks the expansion to a European Cultural Summer. This is just one of the landmark achievements from the signing of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in 2018 where culture has been identified as one of the focal areas of bilateral cooperation.
For 2019 Viva Europa has the theme ‘EU Goes Techno’ following the Copernicus Conference that was conducted last March. Copernicus covers a wide range of fields where the EU assists the Philippines through the development of applications and services. It involves urban planning, marine protection to disaster reduction and management, all connected through the wider category of environmental protection.
The Copernicus Programme is a cornerstone of EU efforts to monitor the earth and its many ecosystems from integrated space and ground-based data. This European system uses satellites for monitoring the Earth and is able to provide high-resolution imagery daily generating precise information that can be utilized in multiple fields such as food security, deforestation, climate change, pollution and natural disasters. The high resolution data provided by Copernicus is also used by innovative businesses to develop satellite-enabled products and services.
“EU Goes techno” will be the overarching theme of this year’s Europa Day reception on 9 May. In cooperation with the Manila Astronomical Society, the EU Delegation will also conduct a stargazing activity and a session on stars and constellations for interested youths and other sectors on the third week of May.
Along with Copernicus-related activities, Viva Europa 2019 will cover topics like children’s rights, environmental protection and music.
Museo Pambata Prog Mgr Noreen Parafina; Alba’s Restaurant, April 8, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista
Children will be in the spotlight when the EU Delegation and Museo Pambata together with the Embassies of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, and the Philippine-Italian Association will give disadvantaged children the opportunity to hear European stories and to participate in games and other fun cultural activities.
Copernicus mostly works with relevant agencies, LGUs, NGOs even the academe for environmental protection. The EU, however, also understands the need for educating the public and the youth. Hence, the Children’s Festival (May 23) in Museo Pambata called LAKBAYIN NATIN ANG EU also has the environment as its theme.
Spanish Emb Cultural Affairs Pilar Cuadra and Instituto Cervantes Proj Coordinator Jose Fonz; Alba’s Restaurant, April 8, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista
Combining green initiatives with fitness, the EU has conducted successful bike tours. They have become quite popular through several editions covering the most scenic spots such as Palawan, Guimaras and Ilo ilo. This year it will be held in Bohol from May 5 to 7.
Signature events such as the EURO PINOY CONCERT will be held on May 7 at the RUINS in Poblacion. MUSICA FEUOROPA at the Far Eastern University will follow on May 25-26. A unique component this year is the stargazing activity that will be held in cooperation with the Manila Astronomical Society in the third week of May.
For the exact date and other details log on to the official EU website:
http://eeas.europa.edu/delegations/philippines
Standing 3rd from left: EU Amb Franz Jessen, 5th from left: Romanian Amb. Mihai Shion, from left: German Emb Cultural Officer Cyril Constantino, French Conselor for Cultural Cooperation Jean Jacques Forte, MB Foreign Diplomacy Reporter Roy Mabasa, Spanish Emb Cultural Affairs Pilar Cuadra, EU First Sec. Romain Rivier, Instituto Cervantes Proj Coordinator Jose Fonz and Phil BizNews Columnist Dr. Rebekka Volmer. Seated from left: Goethe Inst Public Affairs Charlene Batulan, Belgian Emb Rep. Trisha Parungao, Czech Emb Rep Karren Fetalvero, EU Political Press Information Officer Michiko Quinto, EU Public Affairs Officer Thelma Gecolea and French Audio Visual Attaché Martin Macalintal; Alba’s Restaurant, April 8, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista
CALENDAR OF EVENTS from Embassies and Cultural Institutes
Instituto Cervantes– important date: April 27– DIA DEL LIBRO activities start from 9:30am Ayala Triangle
On April 27 Saturday, Instituto Cervantes, The cultural arm of the Embassy of Spain, will once again be abuzz with exciting activities to celebrate the Dia Del Libro (International Book Day) at the Ayala Triangle. As in previous years thousands of books will be up for grabs. Top bookstores and publishing houses will be selling a wide array of books at a 20% discount. Following the tradition in Spain, everyone who buys a book will also be given a rose.
Apart from a book market, there will also be a whole lot of other activities. Check out Instituto Cervantes’ free Spanish demo class. Meet award winning authors at boo presentations. Participate in the poetry of Mi Ultimo Adios. Savor delectable Spanish cuisine from different Spanish restaurants. Treat your children as well with many fun activities in store for them like storytelling, games and coloring.
The Late Isabel
Cap off the evening with POSPOROS, a free concert which brings together independent Filipino and Spanish musicians. Presented by the Embassy of Spain, Instituto Cervantes and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Performers include VULK, a Basque punk band from Bilbao and THE LATE ISABEL an art rock band from the Philippines.
There are more activities posted here:
www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila
VULK
French Embassy In the Philippines: important dates: Thursdays– Cultural Thursdays, Alliance Francaise de Manille, April 24 – Manila 2050: Towards sustainable urban development forum Inst. of Environmental Science and Meteorology, U.P., April 25-29– BAKA NAMAN HINDI (adaptation of Geroges Feydeau’s La Puce a l’orelle) at CCP Little Theater.
This month for Les Jeudis culturels (Cultural Thursdays), the Embassy of France to the Philippines and the Cultural Center of the Philippines present “Baka Naman Hindi,” a Filipino theater adaptation of French playwright Georges Feydeau’s “La Puce à l’oreille” (“A Flea in Her Ear”) from April 25 to 29, 2019 at the CCP’s Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater).
Adapted to Filipino by Virgilio “Beer” Flores and starring Ricky Davao, Randy Villarama, and Lou Veloso, this play will be presented as part of the 6th edition of Les Jeudis culturels (Cultural Thursdays). The Embassy of France is pleased to extend its cultural program to its institutional partners to reach a broader and more diverse audience for French art and culture.
“Baka Naman Hindi” is a classic farce filled with innuendo, physical comedy and snappy dialogue. Dealing with jealousy, love and lust between long time couples and new friends, it is a humorous tale set amidst the French “belle époque” of the early 1900s.
Tickets are priced at PHP 1,000 and PHP 1,200 (with a 50% student discount and a 20% senior citizen, PWD, and government employee discount), and may be purchased at the CCP Box Office or through TicketWorld.
In 2019, the Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia will organize a series of events on the theme “Manila 2050: Towards sustainable urban development.”
This initiative was selected as part of the call for projects of Institut Français “Fonds d’Alembert,” which supports international public discourses on various themes within which French research has strong international expertise. In 2019, the selected theme is “Cities of the Future.”
“Manila 2050: Towards sustainable urban development” intends to bring together French and Filipino experiences and expertise in sustainable and livable urban development through a transdisciplinary approach combining conferences, debates, exhibitions, workshops, master classes.
On April 24, a forum on waste and water management in Metro Manila will take place at the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology of the University of the Philippines. On this occasion, representatives from SYCTOM, the metropolitan agency for household waste in Paris, will be present to share their experiences on waste management in the French capital.
Embassy of the Czech Republic: important dates: Lukas Sommer classical guitarist performance – May 6 at Museum of Natural History, May 7 at EURO PINOY Concert, The Ruins in Poblacion, June 1 – ANGEL OF THE LORD film screening at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
The Czech Embassy Manila is bringing in the Philippines a marvelous guitarist and gifted composer Lukas Sommer. He is one of the leading personalities in the current generation of young Czech musicians.
Lukas Sommer graduated from the Academy of Perfroming Arts where he studied composition under professor Ivan Kurz. He is the author of more than 40 opuses for different works. In addition to orchestral music Sommer focuses on chamber music.
In Manila Sommer will perform in the newly opened Museum of National History of the Philippines to celebrate the Month of Cultural Heritage on May 6. He will then perfrom with EU fellows at the EUROPINOY Concert on May 7 in the Ruins at Poblacion. His tour will culminate with a concert in Rockwell Centre Makati. He will conduct a lecture in music composition and guitar playing at the U.P. Diliman and International School of Manila.
For exact dates and time log on to:
www.facebook.com/CzechEmbassyManila
The Czech Embassy will screen a Czech Movie for children for free on June 1, 2019 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. This is to celebrate the International Day of Children which is a holiday in Czech Republic on June 1st.
The Czech Embassy will screen the movie ANGEL OF THE LORD, a tale about love, forgiveness and the ability to help others selflessly. This is one of the most popular Czech movies for children.
Goethe Institut Manila: important dates every weekend of April 27-May 26 – Wim Wenders film screening at the Cinematheque Centre Manila.
The Goethe-Institut Manila invites you to a film retrospective of well-acclaimed German filmmaker, Wim Wenders. Nine award-winning Wim Wenders feature films and a documentary will be screened for free every weekend at 4 pm starting this April 27 to May 26 at the Cinematheque Centre Manila.
Wim Wenders (born 1945) came to international prominence as one of the pioneers of the New German Cinema in the 1970s and is considered to be one of the most important figures in contemporary German Film. In addition to his many prize-winning feature films, his work as a scriptwriter, director, producer, photographer, and author also encompasses an abundance of innovative documentary films, international photo exhibitions and numerous monographs, film books and prose collections. He lives and works in Berlin, together with his wife Donata Wenders.
For more details log on to:
https://www.goethe.de/ins/ph/en/kul/sup/wwr-19.html
Dia del Libro 2018