From left: Office of Foreign Missions New York Regional Director Kathleen Eagen, Consul General of Georgia and SoFC President Maia Bartaia, and PH Consul General Senen T. Mangalile formally open the Art and Diplomacy Exhibition. (Photo by Sherlyn Roxas)
NEW YORK — The Philippine Consulate General in New York hosted the annual Art and Diplomacy Exhibition of the Society of Foreign Consuls in New York on January 22, 2026, at the Philippine Center, underscoring the role of cultural diplomacy in community building and international engagement.
The exhibition featured visual art and musical performances from participating consulates, including Barbados, Georgia, India, Malaysia, Morocco, the Philippines, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, Thailand, and Türkiye. Among the highlights were the permanent display of Lamination XLIV by National Artist Arturo Luz and Solid Island by sculptor Eduardo Castrillo at the Philippine Center Lobby Gallery.
In his remarks, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile described the Philippine Center as a space where art serves as a bridge for dialogue and mutual understanding. SoFC President and Georgian Consul General Maia Bartaia emphasized art’s capacity to convey national identity while fostering connections across cultures.
Also addressing the gathering were New York City Commissioner for International Affairs Aissata M. B. Camara and Office of Foreign Missions Regional Director Kathleen Eagen, who highlighted the value of cultural initiatives in complementing formal diplomacy.
The program included musical performances by artists from Serbia and Thailand and concluded with a multicultural reception. More than 80 members of the diplomatic corps, city officials, artists, and guests attended the event.
