PH Embassy in Portugal promotes woven banig products from rural communities in diplomatic bazaar 

 Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Celia Anna M. Feria (fourth from left), along with the officer and staff  of the Philippine Embassy and members of the Filipino community, take a snapshot with the Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. (Lisbon PE photo) 

LISBON, 22 December 2021 – After a one-year hiatus, the annual diplomatic bazaar organized by the Association of Families of Portuguese Diplomats in Lisbon was held from 26 to 27 November 2021 at the Lisbon Congress Center.The Philippine Embassy in Portugal, along with other embassies and international organizations based in Lisbon, showcased their products, traditions and cuisine to the Portuguese public.

This year’s Philippine booth promoted a variety of products made by women organizations in rural communities. Colorful placemats, coin purses, eco-bags, and pouches from Mabaysay by Eva Marie Arts & Craft were among the best sellers during the two-day event. These items were woven by rural women in the communities of Basey, Samar using dried ticog leaves, showcased the rich and artistic weaving traditions in the Philippines.

Hand-crafted products from Artisana Island Crafts based in Negros Occidental were also a hit with the Portuguese shoppers. Foldable baskets, coasters, placemats, hot pads made from woven natural pandan fibers, with some pandan pieces interwoven with ceramic, all crafted by women from the island of Negros Occidental were showcased in the booth. Also featured were Christmas capiz decorations from Hinigaran, Negros Occidental.

GustoKo by Paula Figueras, a Lisbon-based bag and fashion accessories business owned by Filipinas Ms. Paula Figueras and Ms. Queennie De Guzman, also formed part of the Philippine booth. GustoKo products are all made in the Philippines and known to be very stylish and considered high-end fashion in Portugal.

The Philippine booth was also featured on the live morning show by the Portuguese national television station (TVI). During the live interview just before the bazaar opened to the public, Philippine Ambassador to Portugal, Celia Anna M. Feria guided the viewing public to the wide array of unique Philippine made products on display.  

The highlight of the Diplomatic Bazaar was the presence of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of the Portuguese Republic, who had the opportunity to drop by the Philippine booth. Ambassador Feria gifted the Portuguese President with a two-bottle wine holder made from pandan leaves and two bottles of Sto. Niño Port white wine from Adega de Sabrosa. Ambassador Feria took the opportunity to invite the Portuguese President to the ongoing exhibition entitled, “Sto. Niño de Cebu: An Icon of Philippine Culture and History” which will run from 09 December 2021 to 06 February 2022 in the Museo de São Roque. 

Shoppers and passers-by were also given a glimpse of the year-end cultural project of the Philippine Embassy by witnessing for the second time around a large-scale colorful backdrop of the annual Sinulog Dance Festival in Cebu and by receiving leaflets promoting the Sto. Niño exhibition in Museo de Sao Roque. 

The annual Diplomatic Bazaar is a charity event organized every year which provides an opportunity for embassies accredited in Lisbon to support social organizations and causes, and to showcase and promote products and traditions of their respective countries. END

The diversity and variety of Philippine products displayed at the 2021 Diplomatic Bazaar at the Lisbon Congress Center. (Lisbon PE photo)

Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Celia Anna M. Feria during a live television interview by TVI, a Portuguese national television station. (Lisbon PE photo) 

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (left) receives from Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Celia Anna M. Feria a two-bottle wine holder made from pandan leaves made by women from Negros Occidental and two bottles of Sto. Niño Port white wine from Adega de Sabrosa. (Lisbon PE photo)

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