Sentro Rizal Rome, Università degli Studi di Napoli L'Orientale  Commence Second Edition of Online Filipino Language Laboratory Course 

ROME, 04 May 2023 – The Philippine Embassy in Italy’s Sentro Rizal Rome and the Università degli Studi di Napoli L'Orientale (Orientale University), with the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), launched the second edition of the online Filipino Language Laboratory Course on 19 April 2023. A total of 75 students and officials attended the launch.

The 12-hour course aims to introduce basic Filipino language and culture to the Italian students. It will run until 31 May 2023. Prof. Jayson Petras, Director of the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino of the University of the Philippines - Diliman (UPD), will serve as the language program instructor. 

Philippine Ambassador-designate to Italy Neal Imperial warmly welcomed the program, conveying the hope that it will serve as a bridge to further strengthen the relationship between the Philippines and Italy, and help widen appreciation of the Filipino language in the country.

Also present at the virtual launch today were Orientale University officials, namely, Professor Andrea Manzo, Director of the Department of Asia, Africa and Mediterranean; Professor Pietro Masina, History and Southeast Asia; and Professor Antonia Soriente, Indonesian Studies.

In their messages, the Orientale University officials underscored the importance of the program in cultural understanding and promotion in view of the presence of a large number of Filipinos in Italy. They also welcomed the University’s continued collaboration with the Embassy and Sentro Rizal Rome, NCCA and UPD in facilitating the program. Professor Soriente, in particular, noted that Orientale University is the only academic institution in Italy that offers Filipino language and focuses on Austronesian languages. END

For more information, visit https://www.romepe.dfa.gov.ph,  https://www.facebook.com/PHinItaly/, or https://twitter.com/PHinItaly.