19 August 2015 – National Commision for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairman Prof. Felipe De Leon Jr. conducted a special lecture in Milan on August 16 to give the visitors of the Alma Mater multimedia installation a clearer and better understanding of Filipino indigenous culture, and on strengthening cultural roles and practices through chants and lullabies.

Alma Mater is Yuval Avital’s interpretation of Michelangelo Pistoletto’s Il Terzo Paradiso (The Third Paradise) and highlights the T’boli chants and lullabies held on August 15 to 16 in Milan.

“I am truly grateful to Mr. Avital for giving the Philippines this opportunity to be featured in his Alma Mater as it exposed the richness of Filipino culture to its audience, shedding a positive light on Filipino identity here in Italy,” PhilippineConsul General Marichu Mauro said.

“I am also thankful to Professor Felipe De Leon and the NCCA for their continuing support of the Philippine Consulate General’s cultural projects,” she added.

The Consul General also congratulated the T’boli women and the Milan-based grandmothers who participated in the event. She remarked on how it was wonderful to see these beautiful, learned women represent the best of Filipino culture in Italy.

The Philippine component of Alma Mater was made possible by the support of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Philippine Social Security System and Pag-IBIG Fund.  END