Cultural confluences

On Dec. 1, 2023 we celebrated 105 years since the reunification of Romania. This is a sacred celebration for all Romanians, wherever they are. It is the celebration of a stable and peaceful country in a world where, unfortunately, peace and stability are becoming a privilege.

In Manila, we marked this celebration on Nov. 29. For any embassy, the National Day is the culmination of a year’s work, and the moment when our country flies its flag higher and shines its true colors. We prepare the National Day events months in advance. And still, celebrating the National Day abroad is never about one single country but always about a relationship.

Romania’s National Day in Manila speaks about Romania and the Philippines together, now and in the future. It speaks of our shared desire for security based on respect for international law. It is about peoples aiming to live in peace, security and prosperity. It is a shared celebration of common values and aspirations.

Starting in 2023, we have decided that every year, on our National Day, we shall both honor Romania and highlight one of the many beautiful areas of the Philippines. We may need 100 years to put all the beautiful areas of the Philippines in the spotlight but the promising launch encourages us to continue. The idea was inspired by both Romanian and Filipino initiatives.

In Romania, after the pandemic, the government offered incentives to boost domestic tourism, such as holiday vouchers to all government employees and many employees of private companies, or heavily discounted tickets for students and seniors. In its turn, Philippine tourism has reached new heights this year, as evidenced by the various awards and accolades the country has received and continues to receive as a premier tourism destination.

As part of our initiative, this year, at our National Day celebration, we were delighted to share the stage with the City of Iloilo, the Iloilo Province and the uniquely special Dinagyang Festival. They were our guests of honor. The Department of Tourism (DOT), its regional office in Western Visayas and the LGUs, came together as one to help us showcase their home region.

It so happened that we were well synchronized with Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, who led the DOT “Culture, Heritage and Arts Caravan” to the Western Visayas region at the same time, on Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. The DOT-led project is also an inspiration for many countries.

Our initiative also came at the end of a propitious year for Iloilo, when the “City of Love” received international recognition, as UNESCO’s first Creative City of Gastronomy in the Philippines. With a wink I could say that the award was granted before a Romanian, Ambassador Simona Miculescu, was elected president of the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference, on Nov. 8, 2023.

Also in November, Iloilo City was recognized by PCCI as the Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit (LGU) in the Philippines, a testament of the city’s productive efforts as a dynamic hub for economic activities. This newspaper ran a wonderful and prescient article about Iloilo, titled “Business with culture in Iloilo” (https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2023/11/13/2311079/business-culture-iloilo).

Our reception in Manila was graced by The Champions, Tribu Silak, an award-winning dance group comprised of students from the Iloilo City National High School, that was recognized as the champion of the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival 2023 “Dagyang sa Barangay Tribes Competition” in January 2023, and the champion of the Aliwan Fiesta 2023 at MBC Manila in July 2023. The young, talented, and enthusiastic Ilonggos brought to Manila a stunning performance, the artful expression of love that blossoms in courtship, marriage and childbirth and which is witnessed in families and communities.

Their colorful costumes, energetic performances and warm smiles are all glimpses of the majestic Dinagyang Festival. Having experienced it myself during a visit to Iloilo last January, I hope that everyone will have the opportunity to partake in its renowned festivities.

It was emotional to hear, in the beautiful room of our celebration, the guests, Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike, united in toasting for Romania and the Philippines, and then saying with one voice “Viva Senior Santo Niño! Pit Señor!” We hope that Tribu Silak will visit Romania and take their art to many other meridians. They represent Iloilo wonderfully, as young ambassadors of its beauty and rich cultural heritage. They deserve international exposure.

This collaboration, which aimed to share culture and heritage through similarities and shared advocacies, is a worthwhile avenue in fostering friendship, camaraderie and cooperation between our people. I hope that this initiative will be a catalyst for more engagements, especially as we strive to further expand and consolidate the longstanding relations between Romania and the Philippines.

The City of Iloilo, like other cities in the Philippines, becomes a brand of good governance and cultural achievement. It is natural to recognize this. We are happy to have been able to do it. We hope that others will take this initiative further, because there are so many cities, provinces and people in the Philippines equally deserving of our attention and applause. We praise them all.

In the meantime, we are busy booking our tickets for the next Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo, in January 2024.

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R?du?a Dana Matache is the Ambassador of Romania to the Philippines.