At the Fairmont Manila ballroom on March 24, the Nordic countries marked their partnership with the Philippines through an evening that seamlessly brought diplomacy and culture together. Policy discussions shared space with Nordic cuisine, music, and a sense of familiarity between two regions that,...
National day receptions often follow a familiar rhythm—anthems, speeches, ceremonial toasts, and a ballroom filled with diplomats, policymakers, cultural purveyors, and business leaders moving easily between conversations. Yet some evenings carry a deeper sense of history and the relationships...