The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PHILIPPINES PRESENTS FIRST STANDALONE PH PAVILION AT THE 2024 GWANGJU BIENNALE

(PHOTOS – Top Left: Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega welcomes Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to the PH Pavilion with Artist-Curator Ms. Avie Felix, and artist Mr. Veejay Villafranca, screeshot from Arirang TV. Top Right: “Locations of Freedom” Philippine banner. Below: Ribbon-cutting at the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 ASEAN Pavilion attended by Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Officials from Korean Cultural Centers and Government Offices.)

7 September 2024, Gwangju – The 2024 Gwangju Biennale theme of “Pansori - A Soundscape for the 21st Century” explored the interplay of space, images, and sound which inform social, political, ecological, gender, and power dynamics. Under the Artistic Direction of Nicolas Bourriaud, the latest edition is the largest in the history of the biennale with 31 country pavilions and a main pavilion featuring artists using different artistic media.

(PHOTOS: Top: Mr. Toym Leon Imao, Ms. Sari Dalena, Amb. Dizon-De Vega, Ms. Avie Felix, Mr. Dennis “Sio” Montreal, Mr. Veejay Villafranca and Mr. Paul Eric Roca. (Ms. Adjani Arumpac, not in photo). Below: (L to R) Opening Remarks by the Secretary-General of ASEAN-Korea Centre, H.E. Kim Jae-shin; Welcome Remarks by the President of Gwangju Biennale, Mr. Park Yang Woo; Congratulatory Remarks were delivered by the Mayor of Gwangju, Mr. Kang Ki-jung and the President of National Asia Culture Centre, Mr. Lee Kang-hyun.)

The Philippine Pavilion entitled “Locations of Freedom” features the works of renowned Filipino artists Adjani Arumpac, Sari Dalena, Toym Leon Imao, Dennis “Sio” Montreal, Paul Eric Roca, Veejay Villafranca with Karl Castro as designer. Avie Felix, one of the participating artists, likewise served as the pavilion curator.

The Philippine Pavilion is supported by the vMeme Contemporary Art Gallery, Fundacion Sanso, Imao Studios, the University of the Philippines Film Institute, the Philippine Embassy in Korea, and the Gwangju Biennale Foundation.

(PHOTOS – Top: Artwork “Archipelago of Selves” by Artist-Curator Ms. Avie Felix. Below: Artwork “Conflicting Demarcations” by Mr. Dennis “Sio” Montera.)

The Philippine pavilion was among those viewed by Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol a day before the opening of the Biennale on 5 September 2024. The other country pavilions visited by the ROK President included Vietnam and Singapore.

Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Artist-Curator Avie Felix, and Artist Veejay Villafranca were present to help guide President Yoon through the country pavilion at the Asia Culture Center of Gwangju.

(PHOTOS – Top: Artwork “Marawi Did Not Take Place” by Ms. Adjani Arumpac. Below: Artwork “Paradise of Broen Promises by Mr. Paul Eric Roca.)

President Yoon was particularly struck by the photo art of Mr. Villafranca, the works of Felix, and the sculptural pieces by Toym Leon Imao which he said were a “moving homage to those who sacrificed their lives for the attainment of freedom” which strikes a familiar chord in Korean history. The Gwangju Biennale will run from 6 September 2024 to 01 December 2024 at the National Asia Culture Center, Gwangju.

(PHOTOS – Top: Artworks by Mr. Toym Leon Imao)

(PHOTOS: Artwork by Mr. Veejay Villafranca and Below: Video art by Prof.. Sari Raissa Dalena.)

The Philippine Pavilion is part of the ASEAN cluster of pavilions on display at the sprawling National Asia Culture Center a mixed exhibition, art, and library, and multi-use space in Gwangju under the management of the ROK Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Ambassador Dizon-de Vega and Philippine Embassy Cultural Officer Anthony Cornista and all the participating artists likewise took part in the opening ceremony for the ASEAN-Korea Centre Pavilion and the individual country pavilions of six ASEAN member countries. END

PHILIPPINE ARTISTS PARTICIPATE IN THE MMCA CONNECTING BODIES – ASIAN WOMEN ARTISTS EXHIBITION

(PHOTOS – Top left: MMCA welcome banner of the Connecting Bodies – Asian Women Artists exhibition. Top right: (L to R) - Artist Imelda Cajipe Endaya, Ambassador Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega, Artist Agnes Arellano, Ms. Kim Sunghee, Director of the MMCA at the Opening Reception. Below: Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Artists from participating countries, and art enthusiasts attending the opening reception and exhibition at the MMCA.)

02 September 2024, Seoul – The Korea National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) is featuring the artworks of sixty-five (65) prominent artists from eleven (11) Asian counties in its Connecting Bodies: Asian Women Artists exhibition. This showcase celebrates the creativity and perspectives of Asian women artists from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines through more than one hundred thirty 130 diverse artworks. The exhibition will run from 2 September 2024 to 3 March 2025.

The exhibition “Connecting Bodies: Asian Women Artists is attempts a new examination of the contemporary meaning of post-1960s art by Asian women from the perspective of “Corporeality” where “the body is a place where various ideologies and situations intersect, and it is also a locus that reveals differences and diversity.”

The exhibition consists of six sections: “Choreograph Life,” “Flexible Territories of Sexuality,” “Bodies: God(dess)s∙Cosmology,” “Street Performances,” “Repeating Gestures-Bodies∙Objects∙Language,” and “Bodies as Becoming-Connecting Bodies”.

(PHOTOS: Ambassador Dizon – De Vega and Artist Imelda Endaya Cajpe, with her artwork - Kapatiran ng mga Lakambining Maybahay Redux (Sisterhood of Nurturing Chieftains Redux) 2022.)

(PHOTOS - Top: Artist Imelda Cajipe Endaya’s Taghoy, Piglas (Lament, Set Free) 1984, oil paint sawali, nipa and fabric on canvas collage. Below left: Artist Cajipe-Endaya lectures art enthusiasts about her artworks. Below right: The artist with a guest, Ambassador Dizon – De Vega and Mr. Endaya.)

Art luminaries from the Philippines in attendance included Imelda Cajipe Endaya and Agnes Arellano.

Artist Cajipe-Endaya, featured her artworks Kapatiran ng mga Lakambining Maybuhay Redux (Sisterhood of Nurturing Chieftains Redux) 2022 and Taghoy Piglas (Lament, set Free) 1984 highlighting the revolutionary sisterhoods in Philippine history and society. The remarkable artworks were well received by the guests.

(PHOTOS – Top left: Carcass-Cornucopia, 1987 created from cold-cast marble, unhulled rice, metal hooks and abaca rope. Top right: Artist Agnes Arellano and Ambassador Dizon – De Vega. Bottom: Artist Arellano fielding questions from arts students and enthusiasts.)

Artist Agnes Arellano featured her Carcass-Cornucopia to the amazement and curiosity of the art goers. The female figure of Carcass-Cornucopia is a cast of the artists body, done in 1987. The cast was hooved, hung upside down with slaughterhouse hooks, and through the gaping hole of her slashed abdomen, the Serpent and bounty of the Universe split forth.

The exhibition also featured the artworks of the late Pacita Abad, namely, “Arjuna” 1983 acrylic paint, lace cloth on cotton on stitched and padded canvas and “Bakunawa”, mythical figures found in the indigenous cultures of the Philippines and Indonesia in the pre-colonial era.

Works from the late Professor Brenda Fajardo’s tarot series and video art by Eisa Jocson were also on exhibit.

(PHOTOS – Brenda Fajardo Tarot Card Series.)

The exhibition in collaboration with the MMCA Foundation was also supported by the Philippine Embassy in commemoration of 75^th anniversary of Philippines – Korea diplomatic relations.

Present during the opening reception were members from the Diplomatic Corps in Korea, officials from government and private museums, cultural organizations, Filipino Community members, and leading members from the Korean mass media. Also in attendance were Philippine Ambassador Theressa Dizon-de Vega along with Officers and staff from the Philippine Embassy. END

AMBASSADOR DIZON-DE VEGA HIGHLIGHTS STRONGER PH-ROK BILATERAL RELATIONS IN ARIRANG RADIO "KOREA NOW" INTERVIEW

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09 September 2024, Seoul. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega was a guest in the special interview segment of “Korea Now” with popular radio host Mr. Seung-jae “SJ” Lee of Arirang Radio on 04 September 2024.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega described the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea as strong and future-oriented as both countries share core values of democracy, respect for human rights and a rules-based international order which enables them to work closely together in addressing future challenges andopportunities. She mentioned that the Philippines and ROK have a history of long standing and enduring partnership rooted in shared sacrifices during the Korean War.

As the Philippines and ROK celebrate the 75^th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega expressed hope for the early ratification of the PH-ROK Free Trade Agreement, the elevation of relations to a strategic partnership, exchange of high-level visits and completion of the remaining events for the commemorative year.

Ambassador De Vega also conveyed support for the K-Respect Campaign. The campaign aims to foster a culture of respect, acceptance, and understanding in the society and advocates for greater engagement of multicultural families and ethnic groups in Korea.

Last year, the Sunfull Foundation of Korea led by its chairman Dr. Min Byoung-chul, visited the Philippines and met with government officials and business leaders to promote the K-Respect Campaign. Business delegations from the Philippines-Korea Economic Council (PHILKOREC) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) also signified their support to the campaign during their business mission to ROK in August 2024.

The full interview may be accessed through Arirang’s Podcast links: https://www.arirang.com/radio/126/podcast/748?lang=en or https://podbbang.page.link/RegSPKkY44D1sNu99. END

PHILIPPINES PARTICIPATES IN THE 14TH FEALAC CYBERSECRETARIAT WORKSHOP AND MULTI-DONOR TRUST FUND STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

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The Philippines participated in the 14th FEALAC Cybersecretariat Workshop and 4th FEALAC Multi-Donor Trust Fund Steering Committee meeting in Seoul, Republic of Korea from 29-30 August 2024. Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario represented the Philippines during the workshop and steering committee meeting.

The 14th FEALAC Cybersecretariat Workshop facilitated the exchange of views and explored ways to promote greater cooperation between East Asia and Latin America in the age of rapid technological advancement and digitalization under the theme “Shaping the Future of FEALAC Cooperation in the Digital Era: A Vision for the Next 25 Years”.

The 4th FEALAC Multi-Donor Trust Fund Steering Committee meeting reviewed completed FEALAC initiatives and discussed the best and most efficient way of implementing new ones under the FEALAC Multi-Donor Trust Fund.

As a founding member, the Philippines remains an active member of FEALAC and is committed to FEALAC’s objectives of promoting inter-regional understanding and cultural awareness as manifested through our USD 10,000 voluntary contribution to the FEALAC multi-donor trust fund for FY 2023 and 2024. END

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