PHL Embassy Pushes #Diwatadiplomacy Initiative Through the Young Pinoy Artists’ Festival
Philippine literature renditions by the youngest participants in the Art Festival, (clockwise) “Ang Ibon at Ang Langgam” by Myles of Vogeltown, 6 years old; “The Fable of the Monkey & The Turtle” by Therese of Newlands, 7 years old; “The Dog and The Shadow” Joaquin of Porirua, 10 years old; “Monkey Angry! Turtle Splash…” by Sage of Kilbirnie, 5 years old; and “Karagatan” by Jaeci of Te Aro, 6 years old.
04 May 2017 WELLINGTON — In line with #diwatadiplomacy initiative of the Philippine Embassy, PinoyStop NZ – a One Stop Information Site for Filipinos in New Zealand – hosted the 2017 Young Pinoy Artists’ Festival. The exhibit and silent auction featured 29 artworks of 24 “kiwinized” Filipino children, ages 5 to 16 years old, at the Dowse Art Museum in observance of Philippine Literature Month.
With the theme “Panitikang Pilipino: Lift a Page and Discover Your Heritage”, the children were encouraged to reflect the impressions they have of their choice of Filipino literary pieces through their artworks. In this way, their experiences with Philippine written works go beyond a casual encounter, becoming an immersion that allows them the opportunity to delve into their roots.
Ambassador Jesus S. Domingo shared his insights with the attendees, particularly that there are vestiges suggesting a common cultural origin discernible in the Polynesian and Philippine cultures, such as in their languages and literary traditions. Moreover, he highlighted that Philippines, like New Zealand, is a melting pot of cultures as represented by its literary masterpieces, among others, Francisco Balagtas’ “Florante at Laura” and José Rizal’s “Noli Me Tángere” and “El Filibusterismo”.
PinoyStop, which is also celebrating its 5th anniversary, launched the project in 2016 to promote Philippine culture through visual arts.
For more information on PinoyStop, visit http://www.pinoystop.org/ and wellingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph, www.philembassy.org.nz or https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineEmbassyWellingtonNewZealand. END
Ambassador Domingo with some of the Young Pinoy Artists.