GOVPH

Exhibit of Philippine Weaves wows Moscow Locals

Clockwise from top left photo: Third Secretary and Vice Consul Luningning Camoying with two Muscovites, or Moscow locals, pose in front of the colorful Philippine textile exhibit; the exhibit features large banners in English text, infoboards in Russian text, and cloth displays to attract visitors to engage the exhibit more deeply with the look and feel of traditional Philippine weaves; Mme. Teelo Sorreta with fellow Spouses of Ambassadors who graced the exhibit opening pose before the beautiful T’nalak and yakan table runners. Photos by S. Pamocol

12 October 2017 MOSCOW — Moscow residents, or “Muscovites,” enjoyed a rare treat on the evening of September 27 when Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos D. Sorreta and State Secretary Deputy Minister Alexander Zhuravskiy of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation jointly opened the exhibit, entitled, “Perfected by Tradition: Philippine Weaves.”

The special exhibit was brought to Russia by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) of the Philippines, while Russian exhibition materials were co-produced by ROSCONCERT. The exhibit is a joint project of the NCCA and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to bring the story of Philippine traditional weaves to the global public through Philippine Foreign Service Posts. The photos of vibrant fabrics with patterns that are as much art as the life story of generations of traditional weavers in the Philippines transformed the lobby of the Russkaya Pesnya Theater in Moscow, where hundreds of visitors flocked to celebrate a very special day for Philippine culture in Russia.

Not only native Russians but other foreigners and even Filipinos based in Moscow expressed great curiosity about the exhibit. The colorful panels told a story about the intimate nature of traditional weaving and presented a view on textiles as a means to discover and appreciate belief systems, values and knowledge of the weaver and how this creates personal connections with the people who eventually wear the textiles. The exhibit is part of the host of activities co-organized by the Philippine and Russian governments for the 2017 Days of Philippine Culture in Russia. END

For more information, visit www.moscowpe.dfa.gov.ph.

Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos D. Sorreta (left) and State Secretary Deputy Minister Alexander Zhuravskiy cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the special exhibition, “Perfected by Tradition: Philippine Weaves,” at the Russkaya Pesnya Theater in Moscow. Photo by S. Pamocol