CELEBRATING FILIPINO LITERATURE: THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN ROME HOSTS A BOOK READING AND CONVERSATION WITH FILIPINO AUTHORS

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CELEBRATING FILIPINO LITERATURE: THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN ROME HOSTS A BOOK READING AND CONVERSATION WITH FILIPINO AUTHORS

17 March 2025 (Rome) - The Philippine Embassy in Rome organized, in collaboration with the National Book Development Board (NBDB), the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), a special book and poetry reading with Filipino authors entitled, “Tabi Apo: Embracing Enchantment, Embodying Hope,” on 14 March 2025 at the Embassy’s Social Hall. 

The event was participated in by Forty (40) young Filipinos and Filipino-Italians, faculty and staff members of Philippine schools overseas in Rome, and other select members of the Filipino community. 

In his remarks at the event, Philippine Ambassador to Italy Neal Imperial encouraged the audience to explore the diverse narratives that define Philippine literature. He also shared with the audience the different initiatives and upcoming projects of the Embassy that will promote Philippine culture and heritage in Italy.

Filipino author Kristian Cordero, who led the readings, discussed the event’s theme focusing on nature and enchantment, and remarked that Philippine epics, “born from our hinterlands, continue to animate our indigenous people’s imagination and…through these oral literatures we continue to experience the power of magic, wonder, imagination, freedom and our sense of community.” Cordero further said that a sense of hope, community and belongingness manifest in Filipinos’ creative and literary works which is present in the literary works of Filipinos from many backgrounds, be they poets and priests, doctors and diplomats.

One of the authors featured in the event was Dr. Mary Jane Guazon-Uy, who read excerpts from her book, The Book of Pedro Bautista, a Spanish friar assigned in the Bicol region and Tagalog regions during the early years of colonization, who also served as Spain’s ambassador to Japan.

Ms. Trixie A. Odiamar, the author of the children’s book Tabi Apo: Come into the World of Bene and Yno, which highlights Mount Isarog’s rich flora and fauna. Odiamar discussed the importance of connecting natural elements found in Mount Isarog with a child’s senses when writing books for kids. 

Fr. Andrew Recepcion, read his Bikolano poem, “Montoro Inferiore,” and the Italian Translation of Gemino Abad’s “In Ordinary Times.”  Mr. Kristian Cordero showcased his two Filipino poems, “Stabat Mater” and “Pangungulila,” and their Italian versions. The Italian versions of the books of national artists Gemino Abad and Virgilio Almario’s “In Ordinary Times” and “Ang Alamat ng Ulan,” respectively were also performed at the event.

Fr. Albert Alejo, S.J., recited a suite of tanaga from his collection, Isang Kahig, Isang Tuka. A tanaga is a form of Philippine poetry, traditionally in the Filipino language, consisting of four lines with seven syllables each.

Ambassador Neal Imperial closed the reading by reciting his original poem “Ang Babaeng Pulis and Asawa” and presented a recorded musical rendition of his poem “The Moon Stares” from his poetry book, Silver Moon, Hook of Moon.

The event was organized as part of the Embassy’s initiative toward the promotion and preservation of Philippine culture in Italy through books. It  also served as a lead-up to the Frankfurter Buchmesse in October 2025, where the Philippines will be the Guest of Honor, marking a significant milestone for the Philippines’ literary and publishing industry.  END

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR CALLS ON REGGIO CALABRIA MAYOR

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24 February 2025, ROME – Ambassador Neal Imperial met Mayor Giuseppe Falcomata of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria on 22 February 2025 at the Palazzo Corrado Alvaro to discuss opportunities for collaboration between the Philippines and the city. The Ambassador was accompanied by Consul General Randy Arquiza and Consul Francesco Mortelliti of the Philippine Consulate in Reggio Calabria during the meeting.

The discussion focused on promoting tourism, cultural exchange, and exploring the possibility of establishing a twin city arrangement between a Philippine city and Reggio Calabria. Both sides expressed a strong commitment to deepening cooperation and strengthening diplomatic ties.

The meeting was also highlighted by the exchange of traditional gifts, symbolizing the growing relationship between the Philippines and Reggio Calabria.

Ambassador Imperial also conveyed the Embassy’s sincere appreciation to the city government for providing the venue for its consular outreach mission, which rendered 571 services to the Filipino community in the region.

This meeting marked an important step in strengthening cooperation between the Philippines and the city, laying the groundwork for future cooperation. END

EMBASSY OFFICIALS PRESENT AN OVERVIEW OF PHILIPPINE HISTORY AND CULTURE TO ITALIAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

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3 March 2025 (Rome) - The Philippine Embassy met its adopted Italian class of 23 high school students from Istituto Statale d’Istruzione Superiore Charles Darwin on 27 February 2025 in Rome for the 8th Edition of the Diplomacy Education Program of Global Action.

During the session, Consul General Randy Arquiza provided the students with an insightful presentation highlighting key aspects of the Philippines’ rich history, diverse culture, and vibrant traditions. The students were also given an overview of the Embassy’s roles and responsibilities in relation to the Philippine-Italy bilateral relations, and the Philippines’s regional and multilateral engagements. Cultural Officer Naive Mamhot and Political Section staff Joy Calunsag-Rillo accompanied the Consul General in the session.

The Embassy will be welcoming the students at the chancery in April or May for Step 2 of the Diplomacy Program.

The Embassy has been participating in the Embassy Adoption Program since the second edition in 2019. The initiative reflects the Embassy’s commitment to fostering cultural exchange and strengthening educational connections with the local community.

The program aims at connecting students to the diplomatic community, building bridges between local and international communities with a cross-sectoral educational approach, strengthening cultural and communicative competencies of the students, and providing students with a broader vision of the current international topics. END

ADVISORY ON EMBASSY APPOINTMENT BOOKINGS

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