PHL Embassy in Poland Showcases the Pilipino National Language during the Int’l Mother Language Day

Philippine Ambassador to Poland Patricia Ann Paez and Attache Mr. Jose Magaso giving a rendition of “Dahil Sa Iyo” to showcase the country’s Pilipino national language; while they sang, photos of Philippine tourist attractions were shown, on which the Pilipino and English translation of the song were superimposed.

12 March 2018 WARSAW — The Philippine Embassy in Warsaw, Poland showcased the country’s national language Filipino during the celebration of the International Mother Language Day at the University of Warsaw last 01 March 2018.

Philippine envoy to Poland Ms. Patricia Ann Paez and Embassy Attache Mr. Jose Magaso sang the classic kundiman song “Dahil Sa Iyo” (“Because of You”). While they sang, a photo slide show of Philippine tourist attractions, as well as the Pilipino text of the song and its line-by-line English translations were projected on the screen.

Cultural Officer Ms. Imelda de Joya gave the audience a  brief background on the kundiman genre and about the song. She added that “Dahil Sa Iyo” is one of the most popular examples of the “kundiman”- a musical genre which refers to a classic Pilipino love song.

Ms. de Joya informed the audience that a version fo the song, with English and Pilipino lyrics, was recorded by the Letterman in 1964 which one can watch in YouTube. The iconical status of “Dahil Sa’ Iyo” was reaffirmed by its inclusion in the 2004 hit compilation album entitled “Great Filipino Love Songs.”

Flyers containing the English and Polish translations of the song as well as CDs of Philippine kundiman and tourism brochures were handed to the audience.

Ten ambassadors participated in the event which featured three musical performances and seven short poetry reading sessions, all rendered by the envoys or their representatives in their respective “mother tongues.” END

For more information, visit www.warsawpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinPoland/

Philippine Embassy Cultural Officer Ms. Imelda de Joya, assisted by Attache Mr. Marden Garduque, gave a brief background on “Dahil Sa Iyo” and showed a sample CD of Philippine kundiman; copies of the CD were given to the audience

From left:: Ambassador of Sri Lanka H.E. Mr. Watte Walawwe Tissa Wijeratne, Ambassador Paez, and Mrs. Shahanaj Parvin; performers and guests were requested by the Ambassador of Bangladesh H.E. Mr. Mahfizur Rahman to write messages in their respective national languages on a commemorative canvass