Photo Exhibit on PH Maritime Heritage, Identity Opens in Andorra Ahead of 25th Anniversary of Bilateral Ties

Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro expresses gratitude to the Andorran Government, led Andorran Foreign Affairs Minister Imma Tor Faus (left) in successfully bringing the photo exhibit to the halls of the Ministry of Culture Andorra. (Photo courtesy of Andorran Government)

BARCELONA 16 October 2024 — The Philippines' rich maritime heritage and identity is taking center stage in the Principality of Andorra through a photo exhibit entitled “L’Estat arxipelàgic – Explorant la identitat de les Filipines i la seva relació amb els oceans” (The Archipelagic State: Exploring the Philippine Identity and its Relationship with the Oceans)”, which opened on 09 October 2024 at Hotel Rosaleda Building of the Andorran Ministry of Culture.

Organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona in partnership with the Andorra's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture, the photo exhibit showcases powerful images that highlight the Philippines' unique character as an archipelago and its people’s maritime heritage, as well the country’s commitment to upholding international maritime law as an archipelagic state.

The exhibit, running until 30 October 2024, features 16 select images by Jacob Maentz, a Philippine-based documentary photographer whose works portray the Philippine archipelago as a way of life for Filipinos, emphasizing the interconnected communities, and ecosystems. The images are accompanied by descriptions in English, as well as Catalan, Andorra’s official language.

“Because of our archipelagic nature of 7,641 islands, our country is marked by cultural diversity – with each island developing a culture unique to its island. We cannot overemphasize the importance of water in our life – water has shaped our culture, our economy, our livelihood, our industry”, said Philippine Consulate General to Barcelona Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro as she welcomed officials and guests from the Andorran Government led by Foreign Affairs Minister Imma Tor Faus.

Members of the Andorran Parliament, District Councils, tourism association, and diplomatic corps in Andorra attended the exhibit's opening. The Filipino community in Andorra, led by Philippine Honorary Consul in Andorra Hans Peter Holbach, also participated in the event.

“This exhibition aims not only to show the sheer beauty of the Philippine waters, but at the same time to raise public awareness of the major challenges linked to climate change that this ecosystem is facing. Here we find a common point with Andorra, since our mountain ecosystem is also particularly vulnerable to climate change, and it is a priority of the Government of Andorra to raise awareness of this particular fragility in the international community,” said Foreign Minister Tor Faus who also introduced the exhibit as a prelude to the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations of the Philippines and Andorra in 2025. 

“With the opening of this interesting exhibition, we are somehow already celebrating the good understanding and close collaboration between our two countries. The Philippines, though seems so far, is not completely foreign to the Andorran Community thanks to the presence and good reputation of the Filipino Community, which comprise the largest Asian demographic in Andorra”, added Consul General Lazaro. 

The exhibit also displays a 20-foot-wide panel display exhibit that showcases the Philippines’ journey to its longstanding commitment to international law and the rule of law in the maritime domain as an archipelagic state under UNCLOS.

Andorra, a microstate situated between Spain and France, is home to about a thousand Filipinos, including second-generation residents, and falls under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona.

The exhibit is free for the public until 30 October 2024. The viewing is open from 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM.  END

Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro guided Andorran Foreign Minister Imma Tor Faus through the photo exhibit, which highlights shared themes of interest between the Philippines and Andorra, including climate change and environmental sustainability. (Photo courtesy of Andorran Government)

The exhibit is the first from the Philippines to be staged in the Ministry of Culture building. The exhibit showcases the Philippines’ unique identity as an archipelago, as well as its maritime heritage, and its longstanding commitment to international law and the rule of law in the maritime domain as an archipelagic state under UNCLOS. It highlights the significance of the archipelagic state as a legal framework for the sustainable management of the Philippines’ vast maritime resources. (Photo courtesy of Barcelona PCG)

Featured photos are from the Philippine-based American Documentarist Jacob Maentz, whose works emphasize the interconnectedness of communities amidst the Philippine archipelago's geographic, historic, and cultural diversity, and how the dynamic shapes the national identity and psyche of Filipinos. (Photo courtesy of Barcelona PCG)

Filipino baritone Cipriano De Guzman, Jr. captivated the guests with a selection of Filipino and Catalan songs. A two-time recipient of the “Ani ng Dangal” award in Music from the Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts, De Guzman previously lived in Andorra and performed in its premier opera halls. (Photo courtesy of Barcelona PCG) 

The poster of the Photo Exhibit posted in public posting areas around Andorra

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