29 May 2015 –The Philippine Embassy in Mexico, led by Ambassador Catalino R. Dilem, Jr., participated in the XVI Encuentro Internacional de Convivencia y Hermandad Universal (16th International Encounter for Coexistence and Universal Brotherhood), held in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico on May 22 to 23.
The International Encounter is an annual week-long cultural festival which sees the regular participation of dozens of countries and foreign embassies. The inaugural ceremony on May 22 was attended by Ambassador Dilem, along with several other foreign ambassadors accredited to Mexico.
On May 23, the staff of the Philippine Embassy, along with their families and members of the Filipino community in Mexico, staged a 45-minute presentation showcasing a variety of Filipino cultural performances taken from local traditions across the country. These included a recreation of the Masskara Festival of Bacolod, the binasuan folk dance of Pampanga, the Kalinga banga dance, and the subli dance from the Tagalog region, choreographed by Filipino community member Ms. Opalyn Ceron de la Cruz.
The traditional dances were interspersed with other performances: Consular Attaché Fernando Carillo delivered a rendition of “Dahil Sa Iyo”, while Embassy receptionist Bernadeth Ablay had the audience singing along to her performance of “Baila Esta Cumbia” by Mexican-American pop star Selena. In addition, Vice Consul Mikhal de Dios and Mr. Carillo put on a demonstration of the Philippines’ national martial art, arnis de mano.
The event finale was a fashion show of Philippine formal wear, with displays of the barong tagalog, terno, traje de mestiza, Maria Clara, and other traditional dress. The ladies’ and men’s wear modelled by the Embassy staff showed how native Philippine ingenuity and artistry had combined with the colonial-era aesthetic to influence the designs of today.
Overall coordinator of the International Encounter Luis Ferro de la Sota presented Ambassador Dilem with a certificate of recognition upon the conclusion of the performance and praised the Embassy and the members of the Philippine community for their energy and artistry, saying it was an honor to receive the Philippines every year.
San Miguel de Allende is a colonial town famed for its well-preserved historic character and numerous cultural attractions, and is now one of the most popular cities for artists and retired expatriates. It has been named a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). END