DFA, NCCA Successfully Conduct Inaugural Workshop for Cultural Officers of Sentro Rizal

A total of 32 Cultural Officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs together with participants from the DFA and NCCA attended the 5-day “Damá: Sensing Philippine Culture,” a cultural retooling program. Some of the places they visited are (clockwise from top left) San Agustin Church, one of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage site, at Intramuros, Manila; Angeles, Pampanga - showcasing the best of Pampanga's delicacies and a tour at the Pamintuan Mansion, also known as the Museum of Philippine Social History; Ateneo De Manila University, the second-oldest Jesuit-administered institution of higher learning in Asia Pacific; and the University of Santo Tomas, one of the oldest universities in Asia. (DFA-OPCD photo by Maria Vanessa Ubac)

MANILA, 12 December 2022 — The Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy (DFA-OPCD), in collaboration with the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), organized a five-day multi-sensory cultural retooling program entitled, “Damá: Sensing Philippine Culture” from 05 to 09 December 2022.

Damá is a professional training course specifically designed to enhance the knowledge, skills, and vocabulary of current Cultural Officers of Foreign Service Posts (FSPs) with Sentros Rizal regarding the multi-faceted aspects of Philippine culture as articulations of our archipelagic heritage and ways of life. This also serves as a retooling program specifically designed for cultural officers from various FSPs and is the first time that such a training is being offered by the Department.

During the 5-day workshop, the participants had the opportunity to listen to lectures and exchange views with speakers on PH history, culture and heritage, branding, and marketing; be serenaded by the world-renowned and multi-awarded Loboc Children’s Choir of the Philippines and the Les Petits Chanteurs a La Croix de Bois or the Little Singers of Paris at the newly-restored Metropolitan Theater in Manila; watch the lively performance of Balebalayan kids in Pampanga; explore the Metropolitan Theater, San Agustin Church, Museo de Ning, Pamintuan Mansion, University of Santo Tomas and the Ateneo de Manila University; taste and enjoy Pampanga's delicacies, such as the panecillos de San Nicolas, sisig, bringhe, tibok-tibok, tamales, and tocino del cielo, as prepared by Pampanga’s well-known culinary icon, Ms. Lilian Borromeo; and meet and be inspired by two National Artists for Literature, Virgilio Almario and Gemino Abad, as well as National Artist for Dance, Alice Reyes. On the last day of Damá, participants from different Foreign Service Posts presented their cultural work plans.

The DFA intends to offer this cultural retooling course annually as part of the capacity-building for cultural attaches and further strengthening the Department’s cultural diplomacy mandate. END

Loboc Children's Choir of Bohol and  Les Petits Chanteurs a La Croix de Bois or the Little Singers of Paris serenade the participants in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of PH and France Diplomatic Relations at the newly-renovated Metropolitan Theatre on 05 December 2022. (DFA-OPCD photo by Maria Vanessa Ubac)

The journey and exploration continue on the 4th day of the "Damá" Workshop. Participants took a step back from all the immersion to listen to lectures and exchange views with speakers on PH culture, branding, and marketing, among others.  (DFA-OPCD photo by Maria Vanessa Ubac)

Presentation of the cultural work plans by the participants per region, while DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Cultural Diplomacy Gonaranao B. Musor served as one of the reactors during the workshop (bottom right photo). (DFA-OPCD photo by Maria Vanessa Ubac)

The Damá workshop closes with inspiring encounters with two National Artists for Literature, Virgilio Almario (top left) and Gemino Abad (top right), and National Artist for Dance, Alice Reyes (bottom left); followed by the awarding of certificates to the participants. (DFA-OPCD photo by Maria Vanessa Ubac)