In celebration of the 114th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence, the Philippine Embassy in Beijing hosted on 15 June 2012 the soft launch of a photo exhibit entitled “Mirth of the Islands.” Featuring a collection of 30 photographs taken in Samar and Leyte by seven members of the Philippine Overseas Photographers in Beijing (POP-Beijing), the exhibit highlighted the joie de vivre of the Filipino people and dovetailed with the new campaign of the Department of Tourism “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.”
Over a hundred people from the Filipino and expatriate community came to view the exhibit. Members of the diplomatic corps and officials of the Chinese government were also in attendance.
“If a picture paints a thousand words, we hope that what our Chinese friends will learn this afternoon about the Filipinos are that we are a warm and friendly people, optimistic about the future, always greeting life with laughter, ready to extend a hand of friendship. The pictures also highlight the value that the Filipinos and Chinese share: harmony with family, community and nature,” said Mr. Alex Chua, the Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires.
Mr. Chua added that this photo exhibit will travel across China in 2012 and 2013, which have been declared by President Benigno S. Aquino III and President Hu Jintao as Philippines-China Years of Friendly Exchanges.
An interesting additional attraction during the soft launch of the exhibit were the performances of two unique artists: Ms. Annie Luis, a Filipino scholar studying Peking Opera, and Ms. Liu Yang, a Chinese violinist who recently completed her masteral studies in musicology with a special focus on Philippine music.
Ms. Liu Yang played “Sarong Banggi” and “Itik-Itik” to the delight of the Pinoys in the crowd. Please click play for a video clip of Ms. Liu Yang’s performance. Ms. Luis, on the other hand, enthralled the audience with Filipino traditional songs like “Sa Kabukiran” and “Ikaw ang Minamahal Ko” as well as the patriotic song “Bayan Ko,” to which Filipinos in the audience sang along.
The visitors of the exhibit were treated to some Filipino dishes, such as pansit, embotido, and lumpiang shanghai, and had the opportunity to win two round-trip tickets to Manila, courtesy of Cebu Pacific Air.
Earlier, the Embassy kicked off the celebrations of the anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence on 12 June with a flag raising program, followed by the reading of the messages of President Aquino, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto Del Rosario, and Secretary of Trade and Industry Gregory Domingo. The event, which was attended by the Embassy staff and several members of the Filipino community, also included the screening of the movie “Sakay.” The film features the life of Macario Sakay, who fought valiantly against Spanish and American colonizers.
Officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Beijing, led by CDA Alex Chua, sing the national anthem during the flag-raising ceremony on 12 June 2012.
Visitors to the Mirth of the Islands Photo Exhibit were impressed by vivid and lively images captured by the Pinoy Overseas Photographers in Beijing (POP-Beijing).
An official of the DPRK Embassy types in his best wishes in the electronic message book.
CDA Alex Chua thank the two ladies -- Ms Annie Luis and Ms. Liu Yang – for their outstanding musical performances.
Visitors of the exhibit were treated to some Filipino dishes like pansit, lumpiang shanghai, and embotido.
