PH Ambassador in Portugal Presents the PH Participation at the Rhino Project of Rhi_Think

Ambassador to Portugal Celia Anna M. Feria (second from left) with artist from São Tomé Kwame Sousa (leftmost) and Portuguese actress and director Cátia Terrinca (rightmost). (Lisbon PE photo)

LISBON 10 October 2019 – Speaking in Portuguese, Ambassador to Portugal Celia Anna M. Feria presented the results of the Philippines’ participation in the RHI_Think Project at the Sala Beijing of the Museu Fundação Oriente on 14 September 2019.

Ambassador Feria enlisted the help of Filipino artist and Moving Image Lab Filipinas founder Kristopher Ardena to implement the project with the students of Angela L. Colmenares Elementary School (ALCES) located in Barrio Tuguis, Negros Occidental.

During her presentation, Ambassador Feria shared photos of how the students in ALCES were taught of the story of the Portuguese rhino, Ganga. The students were asked to create a booklet where they record their activities, draw their interpretation of Ganga, and create artworks with the use of recycled materials. 

The Ambassador stressed the significance of challenging the younger generation to develop critical and artistic thinking. She also expressed the importance of such projects that help promote a new innovative approach to appreciating and learning history, and its role in facilitating relationships and linkages between countries and their people and culture. 

The story of Ganga is about the iconic Portuguese rhinoceros gifted by the Governor of India to the King of Portugal and was later on sent to the Pope but died in a shipwreck off the Italian coast during a storm. 

The RHI_Think is an initiative organized by the Arte Institute of Portugal that intends to re-invent a new dialogue between art, culture, and business through lectures, workshops, and multidisciplinary shows. The RHI initiative will take place in 12 cities in Portugal.

These cultural events will remain documented in the online platform rhi-think.com to promote events and shows all year round and to allow access from any person from around the world. It includes events on music, literature, arts, and science, architecture, design, cinema, dance, education, and citizenship.

The RHI Education Project, where the Philippines participated, believes in the power and imagination of the younger generation. END

Ambassador Feria shares with the audience how Filipino artist Kristopher Ardena introduced Portugal to the students of Angela L. Colmenares Elementary School (ALCES) in Barrio Tuguis in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental. (Lisbon PE photo)

Ambassador Feria shares photos of the kids learning about the story of Ganga. (Lisbon PE photo)

Photos of students from ALCES creating artworks inspired by the story of Ganga were flashed during the talk. (Lisbon PE photo)

Booklets made by the ALCES students. (Lisbon PE photo)

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