PH Consulate General in Barcelona Presents a Philippine Cultural Extravaganza in Celebration of 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence
Headlining the event was the Masskara Festival dance, performed by Filipino nurses in Barcelona, with their friends, donned in costumes donated by the Bacolod LGU through the Philippine Consulate General
(Barcelona PCG photo)
BARCELONA, 16 June 2023 - The Philippine Consulate General, in partnership with Megaworld International and the vibrant Filipino community in Barcelona, proudly presented the highly anticipated event, "Mano Po: Una Gran Celebracion del Patrimonio Filipino." Held on 11 June, 2023, at the picturesque Moll de la Fusta, Port Vell, the celebration marked the 125th anniversary of Philippine Independence, attracting over 10,000 attendees.
"Mano Po" immersed visitors in a cultural extravaganza that showcased the rich heritage and traditions of the Philippines. The event aimed to foster appreciation of Philippine culture and the Filipino community in Barcelona, while inviting second and third-generation Filipinos, and Spanish and international tourists to experience Filipino culture in Barcelona.
"Mano Po" is a testament to the vibrant spirit and unity of the Filipino community in Barcelona. Through this event, we aim to unleash the full power of our community and proudly showcase the richness of Philippine culture to the people of Barcelona. It is our heartfelt desire to forge deeper connections, foster understanding, and leave an indelible mark on the city's cultural landscape," said the Philippine Consul General in Barcelona, Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro, as she welcomed the audience to the event.
Philippine Ambassador to Spain Philippe Lhuillier shared a special message for the community, wherein he underscored the importance of looking to the future as the Philippines and Spain reach greater heights in their relations, especially in trade and investments.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Arnell Ignacio was also on hand to celebrate with the community, discussing the benefits of OWWA membership and other updates, before entertaining the crowd with his rendition of Filipino love songs.
The highlight of the celebration was the diverse array of activities that delighted visitors throughout the day, from festival dances headlined by the Masskara Festival dance, arnis demonstration, Philippine games, modern folk dance contest, harana contest, and many more. Attendees had the opportunity to indulge in the flavors of the Philippines at the Filipino restaurant booths, where they savored a wide selection of authentic Filipino cuisine. From traditional favorites like crispy pata, lumpia, and pancit to mouthwatering treats like different kakanin and pampalamig, the culinary offerings provided a true taste of the Philippines.
The day-long event saw visitors treated to spectacular festivals and traditional folk dance performances, with the stage coming alive with the vibrant colors of the Masskara and Sinulog festival and traditional costumes from the Cordilleras, donated by the City Governments of Bacolod and Cebu, and Baguio, respectively. The Filipino community danced to Masskara, Sinulog, Pandanggo sa Ilaw, and many more, performed by talented, volunteer groups from various Filipino community organizations. The performances brought the essence of Philippine culture to life, and ensured a festive atmosphere throughout the day.
Filipino music and musical expressions were also one of the most memorable highlights of the event. The crowd enjoyed folk songs and contemporary hits, performed by talented, Barcelona-based Filipino singers and musicians.
Contests were also held to determine the best performers of harana and modern folk dance, as well as the best cultural booth, which was bagged by BIBAAK for the colorful and intricate designs representing symbols of the Cordilleras on their booth.
Bringing an iconic Philippine symbol to the event was QEV Technologies, who displayed an innovative e-jeepney, showcasing their efforts in transforming Philippine transport vehicles into eco-friendly e-vehicles. The initiative underscored ongoing collaborations between Philippine and Catalan companies, this time on the commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions in the Philippine transportation sector.
Throughout the event, attendees had the opportunity to explore Filipino culture through various activities, including a modern Filipiniana fashion show featuring designs by Christian Lanuzo, who premiered a new collection, Barcelona-based designer Azenith Tonio and Kenneth Malayka Yamas. The audience were treated to creative uses of Filipino weaves and materials, expertly modeled by second and third generation Filipinos in Barcelona, led by Miss Catalunya 2022 Ms. Paula Ortega.
An important segment of the event was the conferment of the “Champion of Filipino Excellence” award to Dr. Andrew Tan, for his outstanding contributions in bringing the Philippine brand to and showcasing Filipino excellence on the global stage. Ambassador Lhuillier and Consul General Lazaro conferred the award, received on behalf of Dr. Tan by Ms. Maria Victoria M. Acosta, Executive Vice President of Megaworld International, and Mr. Jorge Domecq, Chief Executive Officer of Emperador Properties. Their presence further exemplified the collective commitment to promoting Filipino excellence and fostering greater appreciation for our country's achievements on the international platform.
"Mano Po: Una Gran Celebracion del Patrimonio Filipino" was a highly successful event that celebrated the Filipino spirit, resilience, and cultural heritage in the heart of Barcelona. Not only did it commemorate the 125th anniversary of Philippine Independence, but it also presented the vibrant Filipino community and their rich traditions to both residents and visitors of Barcelona, allowing them to experience the essence of Filipino culture firsthand.
The Philippine Consulate General extends its gratitude to its key partners, Megaworld International and the Filipino community umbrella organization Kalipi, for their invaluable support in making this event possible. Special thanks also go to QEV technologies, the Filipino community in Barcelona, and all the volunteers, participants and performers who shared their talent and passion, making "Mano Po" a truly memorable celebration. END
Over 10,000 people were estimated to have joined in on the celebration, a first of this scale in Barcelona (Barcelona PCG photo)
The Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona, led by Consul General Lazaro, Ambassador Lhuillier, with members of the Consular Corps in Barcelona and a few members of the community and the business sector
(Barcelona PCG photo)
Different Filipino choir groups joined together to sing the national anthem (Barcelona PCG photo)
Sinulog Festival Queen costume by Malayka, followed by costumes donated by Cebu City LGU (Barcelona PCG photo)
OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio discussed OWWA membership benefits and surprised the crowd with a song number (Barcelona PCG photo)
Zumba dancers were also on hand, and were later joined in by the audience, as they danced along to Filipino pop songs (Barcelona PCG photo)
A demonstration of arnis kali was held by Guro Johnee Llandelar with his students (Barcelona PCG photo)
A special guest! Pinoy games such as the sack race were also held, and attracted a bride to be celebrating her bachelorette party (Barcelona PCG photo)
Ambassador Lhuillier and Consul General Lazaro confer the Champion of Filipino Excellence Award to Dr. Andrew Tan, represented by Ms. Marivic Acosta, Executive Vice President of Megaworld International and Jorqe Domecq, CEO of Emperador Properties (Barcelona PCG photo)
Children’s choir Coro Kudyapi join the parade of Filipino community organizations and businesses in Barcelona (Barcelona PCG photo)
Best Cultural Booth winner BIBAAK proudly displaying cultural items from the Cordilleras (Barcelona PCG photo)
Some of the photos in the event (Barcelona PCG photo)
For more information,visit https://barcelonapcg.dfa.gov.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBarcelona/.