(SANTIAGO, 25 February 2021) As part of its series of activities to commence the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Chile in 2021, Ambassador Ma. Terersita C. Daza and spouse David Jose John V. Daza Jr. together with the Administrator and Official Representative of Alcalde Miguel Bruna, Mr. César Corvalán, Lo Espejo Department of Education Head Mr. Carlos Salas, outgoing school Principal Veronica Carreño and new Principal Luis Silva, Embassy team and other guests officially inaugurated a Filipino-inspired mural entitled: Luksong Tinik at the Escuela Republica de Filipinas in Lo Espejo on 25 February 2021. The 2 by 15 meters mural depicting kids playing Philippine luksong tinik with Philippine flora as background was created by Argentine artist and art teacher Melisa Meconi. The project was initiated to highlight Philippine culture while improving a prominent public space at the school that carried the Philippine name as well as to welcome and bring joy to the school’s students as they begin actual schooling this March 2021 following the difficult pandemic year. The inauguration event also coincided with the Philippines’ celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.
The Ambassador joined by Municipal offcials and guests , similarly inaugurated the Philippine Corner at the school’s library. The Philippine Corner is a project of the Embassy, the Filipino Community and the school, which aims to bring the Philippines closer to both students and faculty members by featuring Filipino books, reference materials ,paintings, Philippine decors and crafts and other furnishings . The Philippine Corner will be an evolving project which will include activities such as poetry and book readings and other interactions.
The morning program featured a heartwarming poetry recital by Filipino-Chilean 5-year-old Alonso Rojas Bobillo entitled Chilepino, a poem by his mother Ariane Bobillo that speaks of two rich cultures of two countries sharing the Pacific Ocean, and a rendition of the popular Filipino song Saranggola ni Pepe by Chilean artist Ms. Francisca Diaz. The activity concluded with cocktails of Filipino beef kaldereta and lumpiang shanghai, pan and Philippine pineapple juice which were well-appreciated by attendees.
The Philippine Embassy in Santiago maintains a close partnership with the Escuela Republica de Filipinas as it carries the name of the Republic of the Philippines and thus serves as an effective platform for promoting Filipino culture and the Embassy’s public diplomacy initiatives in Chile. END
