3rd Philippine Arts Festival

08 June 2008

The Peak Galleria

MEMBERS OF THE CONSULAR CORPS, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, MR. REX AGUADO, MR. ALDRIN MONSOD, OTHER OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINE ARTS AND CULTURAL SOCIETY, COLLEAGUES AT THE CONSULATE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN - GOOD AFTERNOON.

IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO ADDRESS THIS AUSPICIOUS OCCASION, NO LESS AUSPICIOUS AND EQUALLY REMARKABLE WERE THE FIRST AND SECOND PHILIPPINE ARTS FESTIVAL WHERE OUR ARTISTS HERE, HAD SET THEIR OWN BENCHMARKS. BUT IN THIS THIRD YEAR, I AM ESPECIALLY PLEASED WITH THE RANGE OF TALENTS AND EVENTS THAT WILL BE FEATURED. THE LIVE PAINTING PERFORMANCE OF MR. JOEL FERRARIS SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY INTRIGUING. HE STARTED FILLING HIS BLANK CANVAS LAST JUNE 3 AND WE ARE NOW ALL EXCITED TO SEE THE FINAL ARTWORK WHICH WILL BE REVEALED ON JUNE 24^th.

LET ME ALSO MENTION HERE THAT AS PART OF THE PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE MONTH CELEBRATION AND OF THIS FESTIVAL OF COURSE, THE PINOY PHOTOGRAPHERS CLUB OF HONG KONG OPENED THEIR SECOND EXHIBIT LAST THURSDAY AT THE PREMISES OF THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE. THE IMAGES SHOULD ENCOURAGE VIEWERS IN TAKING A SECOND LOOK AT FAMILIAR SCENES SHOT FROM VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND PRESENTED FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. I INVITE YOU TO ALSO VISIT AND TAKE A LOOK AT THEM, BEFORE THEY MOVE TO THE NEXT VENUE WHICH IS THE FRINGE CLUB.

NOW, THE OTHER EVENTS WHICH ARE PART OF THE ARTS FESTIVAL, ARE EQUALLY INTERESTING - INCLUDING THE GROUP SHOWS OF OUR HONG KONG-BASED ARTISTS SUCH AS NOEL DE GUZMAN, BEN GUIA, JUSTO CASCANTE AND CHARLIE CO TO NAME SOME OF THEM - AS WELL AS THE ACTING WORKSHOPS FOR NON-ACTORS AND DRAMATHERAPHY FOR HELPERS WHICH WILL BE CONDUCTED BY MS. MIDA AZADA.

MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PHILIPPINE ARTS AND CULTURAL SOCIETY FOR THEIR AUDACIOUS SPIRIT, AND PASSION FOR THE ARTS AND THE PROMOTION OF PHILIPPINE CULTURE. INDEED, YOU HAVE CONTINUED TO BE AN INVALUABLE PARTNER OF THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE OVER THE YEARS. THESE EXPOSITIONS, NO DOUBT, WILL SHOWCASE THE INGENUITY, INVENTIVENESS AND UNIQUENESS OF THE FILIPINO ARTIST.

I CONSIDER THE VARIED AND RICH ACTIVITIES IN THIS ARTS FESTIVAL AS ANOTHER LAUDABLE UNDERTAKING AND ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR FILIPINO ARTISTS IN HONG KONG. I HOPE THAT THESE WORTHWHILE INITIATIVES WILL SERVE AS BRIDGES NOT ONLY IN UNDERSTANDING THE DISTINCTIVENESS OF PHILIPPINE CULTURE AND ITS PEOPLE, BUT ALSO IN BUILDING CLOSER RELATIONS AMONG OURSELVES, AND BETWEEN FILIPINOS AND THE RESIDENTS OF HONG KONG, AS WELL AS OTHER NATIONALITIES IN THE REGION.

LET ME NOW THANK THE SPONSORS AND THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF HONG KONG SAR, AND THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY HERE, PARTICULARLY THE DANCE GROUPS THAT WILL PARTICIPATE AND LEND MORE COLOR TO THE OCCASION. INDEED, WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT, THIS EXHIBITION WOULD NOT HAVE COME HERE TODAY.

MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PHILIPPINE ARTS AND CULTURAL SOCIETY WHO PUT IN THEIR HARD WORK AND EFFORTS IN STAGING THIS EVENT! WE ARE TRULY PROUD OF YOU. MABUHAY KAYONG LAHAT!