(From right to left) Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Candy Cypres-Bauzon of the Philippine Embassy, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Thi Bich Hue, Malaysian Ambassador Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, Indonesian Minister Counsellor Charles Ferdinand Hutapea, Myanmar Ambassador Myint Naung, and Thai Ambassador Chirdchu Raktabutr take a photo at the Opening Night of the 20^th Edition of the Asiatica Film Festival on 01 October 2019 at WeGil in Rome, Italy.

2 October 2019, ROME - The Philippine Embassy in Italy with the ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR) showcased Southeast Asian culture at the opening night of the 20^th Asiatica Film Festival on 01 October 2019 at WeGil in Rome, Italy.

The ACR is currently chaired by the Philippines and is composed of other ASEAN embassies in Rome namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam.

At the festival’s opening, the six embassies held an exhibit of the traditional female attire of their countries, showcasing the Aesan Gede of Indonesia, Puteri Perak of Malaysia, Htaingmathein of Myanmar, Maria Clara of the Philippines, Chut Thai of Thailand, and Ao Dai of Viet Nam. The night culminated with a fashion show of the traditional male and female attire of the ACR countries.

Guests at the opening night also had the opportunity to learn about traveling in Southeast Asia through the tourism booths of the six ASEAN countries at the event. Traditional dishes were also served at the reception of the opening night.

The Asiatica Film Festival is an annual event that showcases Asian films in Rome, with the end view of creating cultural links between Asia and Italy. The festival will run from 02 to 10 October 2019. END

Models from the Embassies (left to right) of Viet Nam, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand showcase the traditional male and female attire of the ASEAN Committee in Rome countries at the Fashion Show held during the Opening Night of the 20^th Edition of the Asiatica Film Festival on 01 October 2019 at WeGil in Rome, Italy.

Philippine Embassy Attaché Marion Reyes and Vice Consul Ma. Claribel Ochoa don the Barong Tagalog and the Maria Clara, respectively, in a fashion show of traditional Southeast Asian attire held during the Opening Night of the 20^th Edition of the Asiatica Film Festival on 01 October 2019 at WeGil in Rome, Italy.

Traditional female attires such as the Aesan Gede of Indonesia, Puteri Perak of Malaysia, Htaingmathein of Myanmar, Maria Clara of the Philippines, Chut Thai of Thailand, and Ao Dai of Viet Nam, are displayed during the 20^th Edition of the Asiatica Film Festival at WeGil in Rome, Italy.

Guests get a taste of ASEAN cuisine during the Opening Night of the 20^th Edition of the Asiatica Film Festival on 01 October 2019 at WeGil in Rome, Italy.