The diplomatic community gathers to celebrate art and cultural exchange.
IN celebration of National Arts Month this February, the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore, along with members of their families, launched an art exhibit last February 16. Titled “Pathways of the HeART”, the exhibit aims to show that art provides not only a pathway for the expression of one’s opinions and sentiments but also a pathway that could help connect people across the globe, irrespective of their social, cultural, political, religious, or ideological differences.
Heads of mission and deputy heads of mission of several ASEAN and European embassies attended the launch. The Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Chief of Protocol, Mr. Pit Low Chen, also graced the event.
Many of the guests complimented the artists for the high quality of their work, some of which, according to the guests, are on par with the work of professional painters and photographers. Others expressed their desire to replicate the project in their embassies after seeing how the efforts involved in preparing for and holding a group art exhibit could strengthen their own personnel’s team spirit.
Pathways of the HeART aligns with the Embassy’s mission to promote Philippine culture and strengthen ties between the Philippines and Singapore. The artworks on display reflect a wide range of themes, from depictions of Philippine and Singaporean landscapes and everyday life to explorations of identity, heritage, and global connectivity. Visitors can expect to see a diverse array of styles and perspectives, each offering a unique insight into Filipino talent and experience.
Philippine Ambassador to Singapore, H.E. Medardo G. Macaraig, opened the launch with his remarks and his original rendition of the popular Ed Sheeran song, “Perfect.” Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General Emmanuel R. Fernandez introduced the officers and staff, and members of their families, who contributed their works to the exhibit.
Vice Consuls Joy Anne Lai and Teddy Edmund Pavon, Commercial Counsellor Carla Regina P. Grepo, and Finance Officer Maria Celesty Cornejo were among those who loaned their artworks to the exhibit. The wife of Consul General Fernandez (Mdm. Alicia Kalaw-Fernandez) and the husband of Vice Consul Renee Gayle Chua (Mr. Dave Villaruel) also contributed their paintings, along with those from the embassy’s administrative staff and attached agencies.
The exhibit will run until March 1, 2024, and will be open to the public on a limited/by-reservation only basis, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on February 19-22, 26, 28-29.
Pathways of the HeART is also one of the activities organized by the Philippine Embassy in commemoration of the 55th anniversary of Philippines-Singapore bilateral relations this year. The exhibit is likewise an iteration of the Embassy’s signature annual art event, ART Trek.
To visit the free exhibit, reserve a slot here.
To visit virtually, click here.
