GOVPH

PH Film Night: SciencesPo screens Brocka’s MAYNILA in Paris

03 April 2024.In coordination with the Philippine Embassy’s promotion of Philippines studies in France, the Instituts d'études politiques (SciencesPo) in Paris screened Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag (1975) by Lino Brocka, Philippine National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, on 29 March 2024 at L'Entrepôt cinema in Paris. Filipino and French students and film enthusiasts attended the film screening.

SciencesPo Paris screens Lino Brocka’s 1975 masterpiece entitled Manille (in French).  

Prof. Jose “Butch” Dalisay, Jr., a multi-awarded author and screenplay writer, led an interactive discussion after the screening, having been one of Lino Brocka’s scriptwriters. He described the nostalgia evoked by watching the film again after almost 50 years given its relevance to the country’s historical and sociopolitical narratives, and the familiar actors in the film who were in the prime of youth during the 70’s.

Prof. Jose Dalisay recounts working with national artist and director Lino Brocka in an interactive discussion with the audience. 

A brief soirée followed the screening where guest students, most of whom were not born yet when the film was made, personally interacted with Prof. Dalisay and with Philippine Ambassador to France Junever Mahilum-West who also attended the screening. The soirée also featured Philippine-flavored macarons — ube, kalamansi, durian, and pandan — from Jem’s Patisserie.  

Earlier, Prof. Dalisay, together with Ms. Criselda Yabes, a critically acclaimed France-based author, graced the Philippine Embassy’s National Literature Month (NLM) commemoration through the reading of their celebrated works in line with the NLM theme “Ang Panitikan at Kapayapaan”. 

The film screening, lectures, and reading marking National Literature Month 2024 showcased the rich heritage of Philippine literature and cinema. 
 

H.E. Junever Mahilum-West (2nd row, center right) with Prof. Butch Dalisay and Ms. June Dalisay (2nd row, center left) with the student audience during the film screening led by of SciencesPo’s Ms. Pauline Couteau (not in photo).

The Philippine Embassy in France remains committed to deepening and expanding its ties with French academic institutions in advancing understanding of Philippine studies.

END.
 

PH Embassy hosts Paralympics

PH Embassy hosts Paralympics delegation with Filipino community in Paris

01 September 2024.The Philippine Embassy in France organized a community gathering on 1 September 2024 to pay tribute to the Philippine Paralympics team participating in Paris 2024. In attendance were Michael Barredo, the President of the Philippine Paralympics Committee, Richard Bachmann, Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, and Para athletes Ernie Gawilan, Cendy Asusano, Angel Mae Otom, Agustina Bantiloc, Jerrold Mangliwan, and Allain Ganapin, along with the Filipino community in Paris.

The Filipino community in Paris gladly welcomed and expressed their suppor to the Philippine Paralympics team  

Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) President Michael Barredo thanked the Filipino community in Paris for their steadfast support to the athletes and extolled the hard work, diligence  and determination of Philippine para athletes

Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West, the Philippine Ambassador to France, led the Embassy in warmly receiving the Philippine Paralympics team, emphasizing the significance of the occasion for the Filipino community in Paris. France is hosting the Paralympic Games for the first time in history, following the recently concluded Olympics which it hosted again after a century. The Ambassador highlighted the importance of inclusion and empowering individuals with disabilities.

Jerrold Mangliwan, Filipino para athlete and wheelchair racer, thanked the community for their support to the Philippine delegation

During the event, the documentary film "Super-Able" was shown, depicting the inspiring journey of Marites Burce, a Filipino para athlete who overcame challenges due to her disability. The powerful documentary illustrated the resilience and determination of Paralympians to succeed in the face of adversity.

The Filipino community and the Paralympics delegation watches “Super-Able” a documentary about former Philippine Paralympian Marites Burce   

Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West (center right) and Deputy Chief of Mission Eric Tamayo (far left) warmly welcomed PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann (center left), PPC President Barredo (center), and PPC Secretary General Godofredo Custodio (far right)

The Paralympic Games opened on 28 August 2024  and are scheduled to continue until 8 September 2024. Along with the Filipino community in Paris, the Philippine Embassy lauds the courage and determination of the Philippine Paralympic delegation. END. 

New Address of the Philippine Honorary Consulate, Monaco

The Filipino (Retro)Romanticist

The Filipino (Retro)Romanticist: PH Embassy in Paris holds lecture on Nick Joaquin works for History Month

31 August 2024. The Philippine Embassy in France hosts a lecture on the translation and analysis of Nick Joaquin Short Stories by Professor Luis Castellví Laukamp on 30 August 2024 in honor of History Month. Embassy personnel and members of the Filipino community joined the session onsite and through Facebook live.

Prof. Castellví Laukamp delivers the lecture on Nick Joaquin’s works to the Philippine Embassy personnel and members of the Filipino community. 

Professor Castellví Laukamp discussed his analysis on three selected works of Nick Joaquin namely, The Mass of St. Sylvester, The Legend of the Virgin’s Jewel, and Doña Jeronima. He explored the genre and elements in Nick Joaquin’s works contextualized in important periods of Philippine history, i.e., Hispanic and American periods. The exploration of his works also calls for a comparative analysis with Spanish and other postcolonial Hispanic writers. 

Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West welcomed the audience to the talk and reminded them of the observances it aligned to, i.e., National Language Month and History Month. 

The guest lecturer donated a copy of his recently published book entitled La mujer con dos ombligos: Cuentos y leyendas de Filipinas (Pre-Textos, 2023), the first anthology of Nick Joaquin’s short stories ever published in Spanish. His work was made possible by a grant from the Philippines’ National Book Development Board which also awarded a second grant on his second proposal on the work of another Filipino author, Professor. Jose Dalisay, Jr. 

The Embassy's library welcomes the donated copy of Prof. Castellví Laukamp’s La mujer con dos ombligos: Cuentos y leyendas de Filipinas (Pre-Textos, 2023). 

Members of the audience actively participated during the lectures’s Q&A session. Questions ranging from the author’s interest in Philippine culture and history, Nick Joaquin’s genre, and insights on promoting study of historical authors were raised among others. 

Members of the audience pose for a photo with lecturer Prof. Castellví Laukamp and Embassy personnel. 

Through activities like this lecture, transcending language and history, the Embassy strategically engages the public to wider and deeper conversations exploring the Filipino identity and heritage. END.