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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider EU launches 'Viva Europa '21': solidarity, togetherness during pandemic

EU launches 'Viva Europa '21': solidarity, togetherness during pandemic

Published Apr 25, 2021 12:26 pm

Viva Europa, an annual festivity of European culture and arts, has adopted the theme of togetherness and solidarity with the Philippines as it presents a colorful variety of events behind the backdrop of the current COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic situation.

With the theme “Sama-Sama Together”, this year’s Viva Europa wants to convey the values of friendship and partnership with the Philippines that needs to be nurtured in these trying times, according to European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Véron during the program’s launch over the weekend.

“I would like to reiterate the need for all of us to come and work for a common good using our respective cultures and heritage. Culture, after all, provides all of us a platform for dialogue and closer engagements. It defines our identity and it makes us understand each other better. In other words, it is what binds all of us, it is what ‘Sama-Sama Together’ means,” Véron said.

Since the launching of Viva Europa in 2010, EU Member States' Embassies and the EU Cultural Institutes partner with various Philippine institutions at this time of the year to provide the best of the European cultural program and to showcase shared cultural values with the Filipinos.

Viva Europa, according to Véron, highlights the importance of the Philippines as a cultural partner of the European Union.

“We have used "Viva Europa" as Viva, comes from the Latin word vīvat, from vīvere, which means to live. Viva means "Mabuhay" while Europa symbolizes the unique European cultural diversity,” he said.

Culture, according to Véron, is not just part and parcel of Europe but also part of their foreign policy.

“It is not just our hearts but it represents the souls of humanity,” he stressed.

The European diplomat further said that cultural cooperation helps nurture dialogue, open-mindedness, dignity, and mutual respect, as well as it serves to deliver important social and economic benefits within and outside the EU.

From April to June 2021, the Filipino public will be able to access the European online experience of the best of poetry, music and visual arts, dance, film, literature, science, cycling, and children’s arts and crafts.

Among the programs that are lined up for this year’s Viva Europa are the following:

Children on Spotlight: On 16 May at 10 a.m., through the "Lakbayin Natin ang EU" (Journey to the EU) festival;

Bersong Euro-Pinoy: European and Filipino poetry recital will have the participation of Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, and Poland.

Euro-Pinoy Concert: On June 4, 2021, at 6 pm, watch the spectacular from Embassies of the Czech Republic, Germany Spain, France, Italy, Austria, and Poland.

Musica FEUropa Choral Festival: All Saturdays of May 2021 from 8:00 to 9:30 pm, Watch the choirs perform famous music from folk to classical from both the EU and the Philippines during the month-long choral concerts.

EU Whiz Competition: EU Whiz: Filipino Youth of the FEUture, an inter-collegiate competition spearheaded by the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines and is endorsed by the Commission on Higher Education

“Beyond the Stars, Reach out to the Skies” Webinar on Copernicus and Galileo: On 25 June 2021 from 3 pm to 5 pm, this event features Copernicus and Galileo space programs and how these technologies are used during the pandemic and in disaster preparedness.

EU Film Festival and EuroPelikula: Films showing from May 5 to June 5, 2021.

Webinars on Bicycle Tourism, Road Safety/Etiquette, Bike-Friendliness and People-Centred Architecture. On 21 May at 9:30 a.m., the Danish Embassy and Intramuros Administration will present these free webinars.

Dante in the Philippines: Teaching and Translating Dante Today, a free webinar from the Philippine-Italian Association on 7 May at 2 pm.

Viva Europa 2021 is the outcome of fruitful cooperation between the EU Delegation to the Philippines, the Embassies of Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Italy through the Philippine-Italian Association, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Dela Salle University and Far Eastern University.

The cultural festival will also mark Europe Day on May 9, 2021. Due to the ongoing pandemic, these cultural treats will be made available on the Facebook page of the EU Delegation to the Philippines: https://www.facebook.com/EUDelegationToThePhilippines/

Related Tags

EU covid-19 VIVA EUROPA European Union pandemic Arts culture
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