09 July 2015 – Filipino painter Manuel Baldemor donated an artwork to the Town of Barrade Navidad, which is administered by the Municipality of Cihuatlan, Jalisco. The turnover ceremony of the artwork took place on July 02 at the Il Duomo Restaurant in Guadalajara City.  

Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Catalino R. Dilem, Jr., Philippine Honorary Consul in Guadalajara Martin Camarena de Obeso, Philippine Honorary Vice Consul Martha Mejia Castañeda and Administrative Officer Bernardo Bagalay were present to witness the donation. Officials from the Municipality of Cihuatlan represented by its Municipal President Lic. Jesus Huerta Aguilar accompanied by Engineer Antonio Moran, president of the Asociacion Unidos por Barra and Sr. Luis Davila, president of the Asociacion Ecologica Cobana were also present during the ceremony.

Before the actual turnover of the artwork, Ambassador Dilem and  Mr. Davila gave a brief description of the painting entitled “Nightmare Visions and the Great Elemental Force by the Sea” and its significance to the history of Barra de Navidad and the Philippines.  Barra de Navidad is a sister-city of Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

The artwork will be permanently housed at the Galeria de Arte de Barra de Navidad along with three other paintings and about 200 photographs where an average of 200 visitors a day admire the works on display.

Municipal President Jesus Huerta expressed his deep appreciation in behalf of the citizens of Barra de Navidad and hoped that the generous gesture will further increase the interaction between the Philippines and Barra de Navidad.

Ambassador Dilem assured more future cooperation and mentioned in this regard the reactivation of the Philippines-Mexico Friendship Group of which its initial activity is focused on the galleon trade. END