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22 October 2024.The Philippine Embassy in Paris celebrated the vibrant and growing participation of Filipino artists across various exhibitions during the Paris Art Week which coincided with the Museums & Galleries Month in October 2024. Led by Philippine Ambassador to France, H.E. Junever Mahilum-West, the Embassy visited various exhibitions on 17-20 October 2024 which highlighted Filipino creativity as they make their mark in one of the world’s foremost capitals for culture and the arts.

Asia Now

Asia Now Paris Asian Art Fair took place at Monnaie de Paris on October 17-20, celebrating its tenth edition. It featured a curated selection of international galleries showcasing Asian artists and included a public program with site-specific installations, performances, conversations, and workshops. This year, Asia Now hosted a significant presence from the Philippines showcasing galleries like The Drawing Room featuring visual artist Roberto Feleo and The Columns Gallery featuring performance artist Eisa Jocson.

Mr. Cesar Villalon Jr. of Drawing Room Gallery welcomed H.E. Junever Mahilum-West to the exhibition of visual artist Robert Feleo at Asia Now exhibition in Monnaie de Paris. 

The Columns Gallery Director Dong Jo Chang welcomed the Philippine Ambassador to Filipino performance artist Eissa Jocson’s work entitled Becoming White. 

Business Art Fair - Le salon à venir

On 18 October 2024, the Business Art Fair opened with a strong Filipino representation. It showcased numerous artists, aiming to find common ground among art, business, and humanitarian efforts and emphasized accessibility to contemporary art during economic uncertainty, helping discover diverse talents and encouraging businesses to sponsor and purchase artworks. The event served as a platform for exchanges among cultural figures, businesses, and the public, promoting art accessibility. During this event, Filipino women artists blended fashion and the arts as each participant designed her own which she painted in her own style. 

Visiting artists from KUNST (Kapatiran at Ugnayan ng Natatanging Sining at Talentong) Pilipino toured Ambassador Mahilum-West (center) in their exhibition at Business Art Fair.  

Artists in combined fashion and visual arts as they featured handpainted Filipiniana ternos.  

Art Shopping - Salon international d'art contemporain at Carrousel du Louvre

The Embassy supported the Filipino artists’ exhibition at Carrousel du Louvre where Ambassador Mahilum-West herself exhibited her paintings along with other Filipino and international visual artists. This year’s exhibit hosted the largest Filipino representation of contemporary artists through the efforts of Paris-based art organizations Art and Cross-Cultural Exchange Society (ACCES) led by Ms. Margo Calderero-Le Lain and Kwadro Pintura led by Dhon Dela Paz. 

H.E. Junever Mahilum-West (left) exhibited her works at the Salon international d'art contemporain in Carrousel du Louvre.

Visitors at the exhibit viewed the vibrant and diverse displays, engaging with the artists and learning about the inspiration behind each piece. The event provided an opportunity to purchase original artwork and foster a deeper appreciation of the creative processes and cultural influences that shape contemporary art. It welcomed art enthusiasts, avid collectors, and aspiring artists as it brought together art lovers from all backgrounds to celebrate the universal language of art.

The Ambassador also graced the vernissage of visiting Filipino artists from France, Canada and all over the world. 

Artists’ Call

Participating artists across France and overseas who came to Paris for the Art Week exhibitions made a courtesy call on the Ambassador on 17 October 2024. A short program was held where they introduced themselves individually and gave background information on their artworks and inspiration. A number of visual artists donated copies of their work to the Embassy. 

Ambassador Mahilum-West received artists participating in various Paris Art Week engagements. 

The Philippine Embassy continues to support the growing number of Filipino artists in Paris who aspire to carve a name for themselves and showcase their identity in the city’s contemporary art scene. The Paris Art Week remains a vital platform for all artists who wish to make their mark globally; thus, the Embassy encourages and supports Philippine representation at these events.

This year’s Museum and Galleries Month in the Philippines honors the delicate balance between preserving the past and shaping the future with the theme, “Honoring Traditions, Fostering Innovation.” The Embassy encourages artists to honor our traditions by paying homage to the wisdom and experiences of our ancestors, as they pursue their passion in contemporary art.

END.
 

 

  

21 October 2024 - The Philippines participated in the 60th Salon International de L’alimentation (SIAL) 2024, a trade show bringing together food exhibitors and buyers and showcasing innovations in the food industry. SIAL provides an opportunity for Philippine companies to feature Philippine products and connect with buyers and distributors.


Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West attended the opening of the Philippine pavilion which was divided into Food Philippines and Coconut Philippines, and greeted the 26 companies participating which produced various products ranging from coconut, calamansi, banana chips, dried fruits, to cacao.  


The delegates discussed the importance of the European market and the challenges experienced in penetrating it. The Ambassador assured the delegates that the Philippine Embassy shall continue partnering with Philippine business in promoting Philippine products.


For Philippine companies interested in participating in SIAL 2026, please contact Philippine Trade and Investment Center - Paris through: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

(L-R) SIAL Paris Director Audrey Ashworth, H.E. Junever Mahilum-West, Deputy Chief of Mission Eric Gerardo Tamayo, spouse of Mr. Tamayo, Third Secretary Jackielou-Mary Gan Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West engages with the Philippine exhibitors for SIAL 2024.  A participating delegate presents its different coconut products from sauces to beverages. 

Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West discusses the products of a Philippine condiments manufacturer.

 

H.E. Ambassador Junever M. Mahilum-West, together with the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, Mr. Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Dr. Eric Zerrudo, National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) Director-General and UNESCO National Commissioner Mr. Jeremy Barns, Hon. Jose Enrique Miraflores, Governor of Aklan, Hon. Victor J. Yu, Governor of Zamboanga del Sur, Hon. Juris Sucro, Mayor of Kalibo and the UNESCO National Commission Secretary-General Dr. Ivan Anthony S. Henares inaugurated the exhibit entitled "AKLAN PIÑA Handloom Weaving and the Schools of Living Traditions of the Philippines" at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 14 October 2024.

Ambassador Mahilum-West, in her remarks, underscored the deep cultural roots of the piña weaving tradition and the Schools of Living Traditions (SLTs), both intrinsic to the fabric of Philippine identity. "These traditions, passed down through generations, reflect our indigenous heritage and the resilience of our communities. This exhibit is our way of sharing these rich practices with the world, offering a glimpse into how we preserve and celebrate our intangible cultural heritage."  

The Honorable Senator Loren Legarda, a renowned advocate for Philippine arts and culture and the visionary behind bringing the exhibit to Paris, conveyed her aspirations through a message delivered by NCCA Executive Director Dr. Eric Zerrudo. Legarda, who was recently conferred the Officier dans l’Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur by the French government, stated: "I hope this exhibit inspires a deeper connection to the living traditions that define us as Filipinos and sparks a greater appreciation of our shared heritage."

UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Mr. Ernesto Ottone Ramirez lauded the Philippines for its commitment to safeguarding its cultural heritage. He congratulated the country on the inclusion of Aklan Piña Handloom Weaving in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the inclusion of SLTs in the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices. He noted how these traditions transcend borders, connecting people across cultures and fostering global understanding.
 (From Left to Right: Mr. Andoni Aboitiz, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum of the Philippines ,  Hon. Juris Sucro, Mayor of Kalibo, Hon. Jose Enrique Miraflores, Governor of Aklan, Ms. Fumiko Ohinata, Secretary for 2003 Convention , PH Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Junever M. Mahilum-West, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, NCCA Executive Director Dr. Eric Zerrudo, Hon. Victor Yu, Governor of Zamboanga del Sur , UNACOM Secretary-General Dr. Ivan Henares and National Museum Director-General Jeremy Barns)

Dr. Eric Zerrudo, NCCA Executive Director, highlighted the responsibility that comes with such recognition: "This is not just an honor, but a panata – a promise to ensure these cultural treasures continue to thrive, enrich, and inspire communities for generations to come." He also handed over a 20-year old piña handkerchief to ADG Ottone and his team as a gesture of appreciation for UNESCO’s support for PH’s efforts in preserving its intangible cultural heritage. 

NMP Director-General Jeremy Barns, who led the curatorial team, expressed pride in presenting what he called "a world-class showcase of Filipino craftsmanship." He added, "this exhibit is a testament to the ingenuity of our weavers and cultural bearers. In celebrating these traditions, we honor our past while empowering communities and fostering innovation for a sustainable future."

The opening ceremony concluded with a demonstration of an element of the Buklog ritual called “talak” and musical performances from Ms. Charley Magalit and Mr. Franco Maigue.  

Ms. Renefe Tremedal, SLT National Coordinator,  discusses the Buklog ritual, practiced by the Subanen indigenous people of Zamboanga del Sur  to the UNESCO Director-General.

Ms. Anna India Legaspi explains to the UNESCO Director-General the process of extracting the fibers of the red pineapple variety which are weaved to become a pina fabric.

Among those who visited and praised the exhibit were UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, Assistant Director-General for Education Stefania Giannini, and Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences Gabriela Ramos. They commended the dedication of the Filipino weavers and cultural practitioners—Ms. Anna India Legaspi, Ms. Raquel Eliserio, Ms. Ursulita Marte dela Cruz, Subanen cultural master Mr. Gauden Sireg, and SLT National Coordinator Ms. Renefe Tremedal—for their commitment to keeping these traditions alive for future generations. 

The exhibit, "Aklan Piña Handloom Weaving and the Schools of Living Traditions of the Philippines," is open to the public at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from 14 to 18 October 2024, offering a rare opportunity to witness the beauty and cultural richness of these age-old traditions. Among the items on display at the Salle de Pas Perdus at the UNESCO Headquarters are the fabrics weaved by the cultural masters themselves, items made in the Schools of Living Traditions as well as modern pina designs by Ms. Adrienne Charuel of Maison Metisse and Ms. Joan Bitagcol. 

Background:

In December 2023, Aklan Piña Handloom Weaving was inscribed in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during a meeting in Botswana. The tradition, known for producing the delicate and exquisite piña fabric from pineapple leaves, has been passed down through generations of weavers in Aklan. In 2021, the Schools of Living Traditions (SLTs), a program aimed at transmitting knowledge of indigenous practices and cultural heritage from elders to the youth, were inscribed in UNESCO's Register of Good Safeguarding Practices. These recognitions underscore the Philippines’ dedication to preserving and promoting its cultural heritage on the global stage. END

 

  1. PH CELEBRATES PACT FOR THE FUTURE, SETS PRIORITIES FOR UNESCO'S PROGRAMS
  2. Paghaboe ku, Kabuhi ag Kinaadman: Aklan Piña Weaving & Schools of Living Traditions at PH Embassy in Paris
  3. Filipino Food, Values & Culture: PH Embassy hosts Nina Daza-Puyat Book Reading
  4. Notice of Hearing
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