PH Languages, Culture Showcased in Int’l Mother Language Day in Dhaka

Shilpakala Academy Director General Lucky Ali (center, wearing white and gold Panjabi) stands between Filipino performers, along with cultural performers from 13 countries, at the stage of the Shilpakala Academy National Theater on 21 February 2019 during the opening ceremony of the annual International Mother Language Day Program. (Dhaka PE photo)

DHAKA 28 February 2019 – Filipino performers showcased Philippine cultural diversity at the annual International Mother Language Day Cultural Program at the Shiplakala Academy National Theater on 21 February 2019, during which the Philippines was given the honor of being the opening act of the foreign performances section of the program.

The Philippine cultural presentation promoted the country’s rich heritage in language, regional traditional dance and original Pilipino music (OPM). Ariana K. Anisuzzaman, a 13-year-old girl with mixed Filipino and Bangladeshi heritage, opened the Philippine presentation with a poetry recital featuring verses from the poetry book “Book of Departures” by Ambassador to Bangladesh Vicente Vivencio T. Bandillo. The poetry collection is the first-ever poetry book in Cebuano and English with translations to Bangla.

Ramon Billanes, a noted artist and singer in the Filipino community in Bangladesh, sang the Tagalog songs “Mahawi Man and Ulap” and “Kay Ganda ng Umaga”, promoting OPM to a predominantly Bangladeshi audience.

Rounding up the performance were the FGAB Dance Troupe, which performed a medley of regional native dances including Subli, Pandanggo sa Ilaw and Tinikling, showcasing the diversity of folk dance and ethnic musical traditions across the Philippines.

The International Mother Language Day Cultural Program is a major annual event organized by the Bangladesh Government to promote diversity of and love for mother languages. A total of 13 countries were featured in the cultural program. END

Ms. Ariana K. Anisuzzaman, a 13-year-old girl with mixed Filipino and Bangladeshi heritage, opened the Philippine presentations with a poetry recital featuring verses from the poetry book “Book of Departures” by Ambassador Vicente Vivencio T. Bandillo. (Dhaka PE photo)

Mr. Ramon Billanes, a noted artist and singer in the Filipino Community in Bangladesh, sang the Tagalog songs “Mahawi Man and Ulap” and “Kay Ganda ng Umaga”, promoting OPM to a predominantly Bangladeshi audience. (Dhaka PE photo)

FGAB Dance Troupe showcases a diversity of folk dance and ethnic musical traditions across the Philippines. (Dhaka PE photos)

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