01 December 2016 — The Philippine Consulate General in Milan, in cooperation with the Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), inaugurated the Sentro Rizal in its premises on November 28.

Sentro Rizal is envisioned to promote Philippine culture, history, arts, and language as well as to serve as a repository for relevant materials accessible to everyone, Filipinos and foreigners alike.

Sentro Rizal will initiate and organize cultural training programs and activities for Filipinos, especially for Filipino children abroad, to promote appreciation and understanding of the Philippines and of Philippine culture.

The center hopes to reconnect overseas Filipinos and their children to their Filipino roots and to instil a strong sense of nationhood and pride among them in being Filipinos.

“This is what we hope Sentro Rizal will be for all of us here in Milan and  Northern Italy. We hope that this will be a point of reference for Philippine culture, history, arts and language for us Filipinos and our Italian friends”, Consul General Marichu Mauro said in her opening remarks.

The Philippine Consulate General in Milan and NCCA signed a Memorandum of Agreement on the establishment of Sentro Rizal.

The inauguration ceremony was witnessed by NCCA Chairman, Prof. Felipe de Leon Jr. and the leaders and members of various Filipino community associations in Milan and Northern Italy. END