“Viva Europa”, the European Union’s annual distinctive, rich and exciting cultural showcase was launched today, 11 April.
This year’s celebrations bring to Manila the best of European art, music, dance, film, languages, food and poetry.
For the first time it will include a culinary festival to highlight Europe ‘s incredibly diverse cuisine and food culture that continues to be appreciated across the globe. Events will include chef demonstrations, special European menus at select restaurants, pub quizzes, food tasting, culinary film screenings and tongue-twisting language quizzes.
JOINT EU ACTIVITIES
Viva Europa 2013 will open with the 5th edition of “Bersong EuroPinoy”, a recital of European and Filipino poetry by European diplomats and well known Filipino writers. This will take place on 20 April at a new location in Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City .
Bersong EuroPinoy puts Filipino poetry in parallel and maintains its niche in the literary circle. Two years ago, Bersong EuroPinoy was awarded theGawad Jaime C. De Veyra – Natatanging Parangal from the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (Commission of the Filipino Language) for “its continuous support and contribution to the awareness and growth of the Filipino language and literature, culture and the arts”.
This poetry exchange coincides with the popular Dia del Libro (International Book Day) in Spain and will feature Spanish cuisine, wines, games and books. A rose is given in exchange for every book sold in the tradition of the Dia del Libro in Spain .
A European children’s festival dubbed “Lakbayin Natin ang EU” (Journey to Europe) will enable Filipino children to experience a weeklong festival of children’s films, literature, storytelling, arts and crafts and lots of merrymaking and fun from 14 to 17 May in Museo Pambata, Roxas Boulevard, Manila. This year rather than inviting welfare NGOs to visit Museo Pambata it will European diplomats and staff from EU Cultural Institutes who will visit the Welfare NGOs and present their activities.
For the fifth time, the Far Eastern University in Manila joins the celebrations for the by spearheading a choral contest dubbed “Musica FEUROPA”in collaboration with the EU cultural group. The choral competitions with participants coming from Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite , and Visayas will be held from 24 to 25 May at FEU, Manila .
A total of 23 choirs competed in the 4th run of Musica FEUropa, the only choral competition in the Philippines supported by the European Union and produced by Far Eastern University through its President’s Committee on Culture and Admissions and External Relations Office. Illustrious names in the Philippine choral scene adjudicated for both the high school and open categories, namely Eudenice Palaruan, Maria Theresa Vizconde Roldan, Oscar Pantaleon, Jonathan Velasco, Fidel Calalang, Arwin Tan, Ed Manguiat and Rodolfo Delarmente. The winners of Musica FEUropa IV were Boscorale from Don Bosco Makati with Himig Rosena from Colegio de Santa Rosa , Makati and UPLB Rural High School Glee Club form UPLB Rural High School Laguna as runners-up.
INNOVATION IN THIS YEAR’S VIVA EUROPA
For the first time, Viva Europa will include the European Culinary Season from 16 May to 30 June which will suit the discriminating taste buds of the Filipinos. European chefs from selected hotels and restaurants, renowned for their excellent and exquisite preparations of food and drinks, will conduct demonstrations and prepare special sumptuous special meals with the finest ingredients.
This festival will enable Filipinos to experience what European cuisine is all about without having to go to Europe . Taste Europe and grab European food in just a few minutes or so of travel!
Viva Europa festivities are presented with the complements of the European representations in Manila including the Embassies of the EU Member States (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom), The Embassy of Switzerland, the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines and the European cultural institutes (Alliance Française, British Council, Goethe-Institut, and Instituto Cervantes de Manila).
Major partners for the joint EU activities are Museo Pambata and Far Eastern University . Media partners include Eagle Broadcasting Corporation – Net 25 (Television Partner), philstar.com (http://www.philstar.com), and Travelife Magazine.
More updates may be followed from the EU Delegation’s
Website: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/philippines
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/EUDelegationToThePhilippines
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/EUinthePH
