17 October 2014 – Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Catalino R. Dilem, Jr., accompanied by Embassy personnel and world renowned Filipino painter, Mr. Manuel D. Baldemor, visited the City of Acapulco in the State of Guerrero and called on its municipal president, Dr. Luis Walton Aburto on October 09.
Dr. Walton welcomed the Philippine delegation at his office at the Palacio Municipal located in the center of Acapulco. The mayor was joined by the city’s secretary general Magdalena Camacho Diaz and city councilor Vicente Trujillo Sandoval.
During the meeting, Ambassador Dilem introduced Mr. Baldermor to the city mayor and informed the latter of the donation of Mr. Baldemor to the city government of a large painting in which the shared identity between the Philippines and Mexico will be depicted. Upon the initiative of Philippine Honorary Consul to Acapulco Dr. Mario de la O Almazan, the donation of the painting will take place in the hope of further cementing the already cordial relationship that exists between the Philippines and Mexico. For his part, Dr. Walton expressed his appreciation and even identified the area in the Palacio Municipal where the painting will be proudly displayed for all Acapulqueños to enjoy.
The painting will be officially turned over to the city government in a donation ceremony to be held during the opening ceremony of the La Nao Festival 2014 on October 25 at the Museo Historico de Acapulco Fuerte de San Diego.
Members of the Acapulco City press corps conducted an interview with Ambassador Dilem in which he briefly explained the reason for the visit of the Philippine Embassy officials, specifically its participation in the activities related to the celebration of International Day of the Galleon. The activities were the wreath laying ceremony at the Plaza Mexico-Filipinas, inauguration of the one-man exhibit of Mr. Baldemor entitled “The Manila-Acapulco Route, the First Globalization,” an academic conference with the theme “Filipino Art”’ conducted by Mr. Baldemor and lastly a sampling of Philippine Gastronomy to cap the successful participation of the Philippine Embassy in the celebration. END