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BAYANIHAN OPENS SHOW AT QATAR CULTURAL DIVERSITY FESTIVAL

17 January 2016 – As part of the Intercultural Dialogue and Cultural Diversity Programme of UNESCO in Qatar and in coordination with the Katara Cultural Village, Bayanihan, the national folk dance company of the Philippines, officially opened the show at the Cultural Diversity Festival last January 11. The dance troupe gave repeat performances on January 12 and 13 at Katara and the Philippine International School Qatar, respectively.



Bayanihan performed a variety of Philippine folk dances that showcased the rich heritage of Philippine culture from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. From the Spanish down to the Islamic influences in Philippine traditional dances, the Filipino community, Philippine Embassy and UNESCO Qatar officials, as well as the Arab and other expatriate audience present during the open-to-the-public show truly enjoyed the artistry of Bayanihan.

SENTRO RIZAL INAUGURATED IN CAIRO, EGYPT

11 January 2016 - The Philippine Embassy in Cairo inaugurated the ‘Sentro Rizal’ and marked the 119^th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal at a ceremony cum seminar held at the Embassy Chancery on December 29, 2015. The event, which was attended by the Filipino community in Egypt, included the unveiling of a marker, a lecture on Sentro Rizal and a film-showing of ‘Pluma: Si Rizal ang Dakilang Manunulat,’ a documentary on Rizal’s 150^th Birth Anniversary.

In his remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Egypt Leslie J. Baja highlighted the importance of establishing Sentro Rizal in Cairo and expressed hope that it will inspire all Filipinos living in Egypt, especially the second-generation and mixed heritage members of the community, to know more about Philippine culture. He likewise spoke on the genius of Dr. Rizal, not only in the field of literature and medicine, but in social reform, and how his works and actions inspired fellow Filipinos to fight for the country’s independence.

The Sentro Rizal, established by virtue of Republic Act 10066 or the National Heritage Act, is dedicated to the promotion of Philippine arts, culture and language throughout the world through its branches overseas, especially where there are large Filipino communities. The Sentro Rizal – Cairo, located at the ground floor of the Philippine Embassy chancery, is meant to be more than just a library containing resource materials on Philippine culture, but also a center and venue for programs, projects and activities that are geared towards promoting Philippine culture in Egypt. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts, which is the government agency tasked with implementing the Sentro Rizal program in the Philippines and abroad, will be a partner of Sentro Rizal – Cairo in achieving its aims.

The Embassy has been active in promoting Rizal in Egypt. Earlier in 2015, the Embassy donated a bust of Dr. Jose Rizal to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, the biggest and most prestigious library in the country.

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN BEIRUT CONDUCTS 38^TH AND 39^TH OVERSEAS VOTERS MOBILE REGISTRATIONS IN LEBANON

04 November 2015 – Despite the torrential rain and flooded streets, the Philippine Embassy in Beirut conducted its 38^th and 39^th Overseas Voter Mobile Registration in Broumana and in St. Francis Church, Hamra on October 25.  The mobile mission netted twenty-two new registrants.
 
To date, the Philippine Embassy in Beirut has successfully organized a total of 39 Overseas Voter Mobile Registrations across the country. The Embassy is among the first Philippine Foreign Service Posts to reach their targets during this overseas voter registration period, with the current total surpassing by about 50% the assigned target of 5,000 new registrants.