THE month of May is often associated with fiestas, Santacruzans, beach parties, family outings, and loads of frolic and fun.
For the European Union (EU), it is not just an occasion to celebrate its founding anniversary but also its partnership and friendship with the Philippines through a cultural festival.
For two months, European art exhibitions, films, poetry recitals and a two-month European culinary festival will mark this year’s Viva Europa, the European Union’s exciting cultural kaleidoscope.
The festival is being presented by the European Union Cultural Group, together with the embassies of Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom.
It also has the involvement of the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines and the European cultural institutes, including the Alliance Française, British Council, Goethe-Institut and Instituto Cervantes de Manila.
Its local partners include the Museo Pambata and Far Eastern University (FEU).
‘Lakbayin Natin ang EU’
Earlier in the month, the embassies of Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy Spain with the EU Delegation to the Philippines held its “Lakbayin Natin ang EU” children’s festival to enable disadvantaged Filipino children to experience a daylong festival of children’s films, literature, storytelling, arts and crafts.
The festival was participated in by cultural counselors of the EU cultural group, 116 kids and 35 volunteers, including student-volunteers from the University of the Philippines’s Euro-Filipino Understanding and Relations Organisation.
In tandem with the Museo Pambata, the EU Delegation, embassies and cultural institutes have been providing this wonderful virtual opportunity for Filipino children to trek around the EU through various activities for the last seven years.
Museo Pambata Director Maricel Montero said they have opted to share different cultures of the EU and make children experience the diverse culture through the children’s festival.
‘MUSICA FEUropa’
A festival will not be complete without a musical component.
Dubbed “MUSICA FEUropa,” it is a choral competition that started as a way to promote the cultural month through music and languages. With an initial four choirs participating, the music festival now averages of 26 choirs yearly.
FEU Cultural Director Martin Lopez said MUSICA FEUropa is a means to celebrate the EU’s diversity in its music and languages.
Musica FEUropa is the only choral competition in the Philippines supported by the EU and produced by FEU, through its President’s Committee on Culture and Admissions and External Relations Office.
‘Bersong Euro-Pinoy’
Aside from music, literature cuts across all cultures. Since both Filipinos and Europeans love to discuss and engage in poetic dialogue, “Bersong Euro-Pinoy” has long been institutionalized in Viva Europa.
Instituto Cervantes, in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, the Goethe Institut, Alliance Française, the Philippine-Italian Association, the Consulate of Slovakia and the embassies of Spain, Austria, Belgium and the Czech Republic, is organizing the Sixth edition of the poetry recital “Bersong Euro-Pinoy,” with the theme “Food, Gastronomy and Table Pleasures.”
Instituto Cervantes cultural coordinator José María Fons said Bersong Euro-Pinoy is a concept inspired by the Berso sa Metrocampaign of the institute in 2007, where the Light Rail and Metro Rail Transit trains were literally filled with poems.
“I suppose that commuters appreciated the fact of having poetry inside the trains, instead of ads. People do like literature, do like poetry, and we were ready to cater to that desire with our cultural program. In 2009 we proposed the European Cultural Group to have a Filipino and European poetry recital within Día del Libro, the International Book Day. The initiative was fully supported by the EU Delegation and since then we’ve been working together to stage a recital very year,” Fons said.
Instituto Cervantes Director Dr. Carlos Madrid said that, through culture and poetry, in particular, cities could be improved.
In 2011 the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino awarded Instituto Cervantes the Gawad Jaime C. de Veyra—Natatanging Parangal for Bersong Euro-Pinoy as a “unique and praise-worthy program that acknowledges culture, arts and language.”
Madrid said the poetry recital offers a unique multicultural event, where participants will delight in hearing acclaimed poems recited by European diplomats and cultural representatives in their native languages, alongside those from renowned Filipino writers.
European culinary season
Because of the shared penchant and passion for food, the EU Culinary Season will showcase rich, diverse and delectable European cuisine and a number of fun-filled quizzes, chef demonstrations and other special events to feature distinctive European dishes.
European chefs from select hotels and restaurants, known for their excellent preparations of food and drinks, will conduct demonstrations and offer the public special menus.
Newcomers for this year include Bizu, Chateau 1771 in Makati City and Belcuisine and Caviar Restaurant and Champagne Bar in Alabang. Bizu’s specialty is the country-style duck-leg confit, while Chateau 1771 will showcase its original speciality, the steak flambé, lemon chicken and tomato—cheese fondue with its delectable coffee pie. Belcuisine will have Belgian food-and-beer pairing, while Caviar Restaurant and Champagne Bar will bring together a variety of lavish European cuisine and unique selection of signature wines.
Viva Europa and its many activities, indeed, is bring Europe even more closer to the Philippines.