(PHOTOS – Top: Opening Ceremony and Ribbon-Cutting of the 2024 Asia Song Festival and Culture Bridge Festa. Below left: H.E. Shorna-Kay M. Richards, non-resident Ambassador of Jamaica to ROK Middle: KOFICE Vice President Kim Kyung-nam. Below right: Philippine Ambassador to ROK H.E. Ma. Theresa B. Dizon – De Vega deliver their congratulatory messages during the Opening Ceremony.)
14 November 2024, Seoul – The Philippine Embassy recently participated in the 2024 Asia Song Festival and Culture Bridge Festa events held from 26 to 27 October 2024 at the Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul. The back-to-back events were organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea (MCST), headed by Minister Yu In-chon and the Korean Foundation for International Culture Exchange (KOFICE), led by its President Park Chang-sik. The Philippines and Jamaica were this year’s themed experiential cultural participants in the festivals that attracted approximately 48,000 attendees to the Mulbit Stage area in Yeouido Hangang Park.
Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon – De Vega extended her congratulations to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MCST) of ROK, the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) and all the artists for organizing and participating in the two events. She further stated, “These activities are being held at an auspicious time in Philippines-Korea relations as we commemorate 75 years of diplomatic ties and also the elevation of our relations to that of a Strategic Partnership during the State Visit of Korean President H.E. Yoon Suk Yeol to the Philippines earlier this month.”
(PHOTOS: Top left: Ambassador Dizon – De Vega performs the tinikling with members of the Filipino Community. Top right: Ambassador Richards enjoying her turn dancing the tinikling. Below: Ambassador Richards, KOFICE Vice President Kim, Ambassador Dizon – De Vega with Jamaican dancehall musical group, Dance Xpressionz, the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group and Filipino and Korean volunteers.)
In addition, Park Chang-sik, President of KOFICE, shared, “This was a valuable platform for bringing together and celebrating the music and cultures of Asia and Jamaica. KOFICE will continue to serve as a leading force in promoting international cultural exchange.”
(PHOTOS: Top left: Ambassador Dizon – De Vega welcomes Jamaican Ambassador Richards, KOFICE Vice President Kim and Ms. Yennie Shon, KOFICE Project Manager to the Philippine booth. Top right: Young visitors at the PH booth appreciating the traditional attire, musical instruments and tourism brochures. Below: Filipino community volunteers and visitors at the Philippine Village.)
The Philippine and Jamaica villages gave the visitors an authentic atmosphere of each country through its arts and crafts exhibitions, traditional attire photo booths, food and beverage tasting, and interactive experiences. The Philippine booths were manned by volunteers from the Kabayan Filipino Center of Incheon.
The first day of the Asia Song Festival at the Mulbit Stage in Yeouido Hangang Park featured live performances from prominent Asian artists. Music platform Spotify’s Filipino rising star, singer-songwriter and musician Dionela, entertained the audience with his original songs and energetic acoustics with his equally enthusiastic band members. Other artists who performed were from Jamaica, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Japan, and Korea with a special collaboration number between Korean boy group 8TURN and Vietnamese Gen-Z star, Mỹ Anh (Vietnam).
(PHOTOS: Top left: Dionela entertaining the crowd with his original tagalog songs. Top right: Ambassador Dizon – De Vega and Embassy personnel with Dionela. Below: Dionela with his band perform at the packed Mulbit Stage area.)
On 27 October, the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group founded in 1972 by national Artist Ramon Arevalo Obusan, captivated the audience not only with their colorful costumes and vibrant dances but also with a performance that showcased the history of Filipino folk dances representing the different regions of the Philippines. A repeat performance by Dionela was much appreciated by the crowd with the artist relaying, “It is an honor to perform in Korea for the first time”. A mixed audience of Koreans, international viewers and members of the Filipino Community in Korea.
(PHOTOS: Top & Below left: The Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group expressing the history of Filipino folk dance through their colorful attire and traditional performances. Below right: Ambassador Dizon – De Vega and the Ramon Obusan Folkloric group in their Filipiñiana attire.)
The Asia Song Festival attracted about 31,000 attendees on-site, 81,000 viewers globally through YouTube live stream and about 45,000 guests visited the Culture Bridge Festa during the two-day event. END
