PH Ambassador Presents Copies of the First Portuguese Pocketbook Edition of Noli Me Tangere for the Library of the Comunidade dos Paises de Lingua Portuguesa in Lisbon

PH Ambassador to Portugal Celia Anna M. Feria called on Ambassador Zacarias da Costa,Executive Secretary of the Comunidade dos Paises de Lingua Portuguesa (Lisbon PE photo)

LISBON 21 July 2023 - The Philippine Ambassador to Portugal, Celia Anna M. Feria called on Ambassador Zacarias da Costa, the Executive Secretary of the Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa (Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries) on 17 July 2023 at the Palácio Penafiel, in Lisbon.

During the courtesy call, Ambassador Feria presented 3 copies of the Portuguese pocketbook edition of the Noli Me Tangere, published by Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial Portugal. These books are to be part of the library of the CPLP for loan to its readers.

In her remarks, Ambassador Feria emphasized the importance of finding ways to share and promote the narratives of the Philippines in Portugal and with the rest of the 280 million Portuguese-speaking community worldwide. She explained that through the Embassy’s close collaboration with the Centro de Humanidades of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (CHAM) the Embassy was able to come up with its legacy projects in the form of publications and manuscripts that explore the historical connections between the Philippines and Portugal. One notable publication is the first Portuguese pocketbook edition of Dr. Jose Rizal’s renowned novel, Noli Me Tangere, a literary masterpiece that serves as a key historical and cultural text in the Philippines.

According to Ambassador Feria, “By making this important piece of Philippine literature accessible to 280 million Portuguese language readers, we promote a wider understanding and strengthen the cultural ties between the Philippines, Portugal, and with the rest of the Portuguese speaking community worldwide.”

Ambassador Feria underscored the Philippine Embassy's commitment to spreading knowledge and understanding of Philippine culture and literature particularly among the younger generation of Portuguese-speaking communities. 

CPLP Executive Secretary Zacarias da Costa conveyed his sincere appreciation to Ambassador Feria for initiating this endeavor. He recognized the significance of cultural diplomacy in strengthening bilateral ties and expressed willingness to explore additional avenues of collaboration between the Philippines and the CPLP. 

The presentation of the first Portuguese pocketbook edition of the Noli Me Tangere to the CPLP is one of the many cultural diplomacy endeavors undertaken by the Philippine Embassy that aim to generate a wider interest and deeper understanding of the Philippines and its culture, thereby fostering stronger people-to-people linkages and mutual appreciation among the Philippines and the Portuguese speaking community. END

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