Vice President Sara Duterte wants students to discover writing their own opera, saying there is something more than popular social networking sites such as TikTok and Facebook.
Duterte made the statement when she graced the opening of the Italian Opera Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” for viewing of high school students on Dec. 7.
The Vice President, who also heads the Department of Education (DepEd) in a concurrent capacity, said the activity, which was done in collaboration with Italy, aims to inspire them to venture into writing their own works.
“I am truly happy that we were able to do this. It started as a discussion about cultural awareness for Filipino learners. And we are now here in this rehearsal, sharing it to all of you,” Duterte said.
“This is to inspire you to write your own opera as a Filipino, and this is to show you that there is something more than Tiktok and Facebook,” she told the students.
The rehearsal viewing held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines started out as discussion on Italian cultural awareness between the Philippines and Italy.
It was a realization of Duterte's discussion with Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Marco Clemente during the latter's courtesy call in August.
Clemente then proposed a collaboration with the Education department to open the general rehearsals of the Italian Opera for viewing of students, teachers, and parents.
During the activity, Clemente thanked Duterte for her commitment to engage Filipino students in cultural awareness and Italian Opera.
“I’m so grateful for your stamina, determination, courage and vision to transform what was an idea into reality. I’m sure these kids will have a wonderful experience. Thank you, thank you very much,” the Italian ambassador said.
“I am almost at the end of my career, but I can definitely say that this is one of the things I can say that I accomplished in my career I feel most proud of,” he added.
Duterte expressed hopes that the activity "is just the start of more fruitful and substantive cultural exchanges between our peoples.”
“The Philippines attachés foremost importance in further expanding intercultural relations with other countries,” she added.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Italy and the Philippines.
Cultural Center of the Philippines President Maria Margarita Moran-Floirendo, Embassy of the Republic of Italy in Manila, actor Matteo Guidicelli, and over 800 students and teachers from the Department of Education were present during the event.