The ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR) promotes ASEAN and its culture during the ASEAN Day of the Festival della Diplomazia held on 18 October 2018 at the Casa dei Bimbi Library in Rome, Italy. Left-Right: Malaysian Ambassador Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, Myanmar Ambassador Myint Naung, Indonesian Ambassador Esti Andayani, Philippine Ambassador Domingo Nolasco and Thai Deputy Chief of Mission Pornparn Buakird.

18 October 2018, Rome – The Philippine Embassy in Rome, together with the other members of the ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR), participated in the ASEAN Day of the Festival della Diplomazia held on 18 October 2018 at the Casa dei Bimbi Library in Rome.

Around twenty Italian children and several children from the ASEAN Embassies participated in the event. The children had the opportunity to learn about ASEAN and each ASEAN country’s history, heritage, culture and food. They also had fun doing activities including finding Thailand’s tom yum kung ingredients; coloring Malaysia’s Wau Bulan; making Viet Nam’s Non La hats; putting Myanmar’s thanaka; dancing to Indonesia’s bamboo dance; and listening to the legend of Philippines’ Mayon Volcano.

The Director of the library, Dr. Elena Arcari, welcomed the ASEAN Committee in Rome and conveyed her appreciation for the occasion to collaborate with ASEAN Embassies. Philippine Ambassador to Italy Domingo P. Nolasco said that the event was a unique opportunity to promote ASEAN culture and to reach out to Italian children.

At the sideline of the event, the Embassies of Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam also set up booths, showcasing cultural materials, and distributed local snacks from ASEAN countries.

The ASEAN Day was organized in cooperation with “Felicity in Diversity” and the Festival della Diplomazia.

The Ambassadors and representative of the ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR) with Dr. Elena Arcari, director of the Casa dei Bimbi Library during the ASEAN Day of the Festival della Diplomazia held on 18 October 2018 at the Casa dei Bimbi Library in Rome, Italy.

Italian students learn about ASEAN and its member countries during the ASEAN Day of the Festival della Diplomazia held on 18 October 2018 at the Casa dei Bimbi Library in Rome, Italy.

Philippine cultural materials on display during the ASEAN Day of the Festival della Diplomazia on 18 October 2018 at Casa dei Bimbi Library in Rome, Italy.

Italian students admire the beauty of the Mayon Volcano after listening to the story of the Legend of the Mayon Volcano during the ASEAN Day of the Festival della Diplomazia on 18 October 2018 at Casa dei Bimbi Library in Rome, Italy.