PRESS RELEASE
PR-076-2024
30 July 2024, Singapore – The Philippine Embassy and Sentro Rizal Singapore, in cooperation with Parangal, and with the support of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), successfully held “A Showcase of Philippine Culture through Music and Dances featuring Parangal” on Friday, 26 July 2024 at the Asia-Europe Foundation. The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, business partners, ASEF officials and the Filipino community in Singapore.
This activity was organized to promote awareness and appreciation of the country’s rich cultural heritage, in accordance with National Culture Consciousness Week observed from July 1 to 7 by virtue of Proclamation No. 1148 signed on 31 May 1973 by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr. The event was also one of the commemorative activities in celebration of the 55th anniversary of the Philippines and Singapore bilateral relations this year.
The featured performing group, Parangal, is a Filipino Folk Dance & Music Company based in San Francisco, California, USA. The group’s mission is to pay tribute to Philippine heritage by preserving and promoting ethnic attire, music, and dance through research, workshops, and performances. All members are likewise dedicated to instill Pinoy pride in all members of the diaspora.
“Culture, encompassing arts, beliefs, language, clothing, dance, and music, is fluid and evolving. It is crucial to nurture and pass it down to future generations, requiring cultural ambassadors like Parangal and partners like ASEF,” Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Medardo G. Macaraig stated in his welcome remarks.
On the other hand, in his message, ASEF Executive Director Ambassador Morikawa Toru underlined the importance of appreciating different cultures, which in turn, inspires respect for diversity.
Parangal, composed of Artistic Director Eric Solano and thirteen (13) of its members, along with Nursida Diamson Jaludin, Sama culture bearer and Igal Master from Tawi-Tawi; and Datu Habib Mohammad, Maguindanaon culture bearer and Sagayan Kalilang Master, performed dances inspired by the indigenous peoples of Kalinga, Sama, Maguindanao and Meranao. The program was streamed live via the Embassy’s official Facebook page and can be watched through this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/WQhNLhxiW1Cmj28G/. Prior to their stop in Singapore, the group also represented the Philippines at the Bojonegoro Thengul International Folklore Festival held last 20-24 July 2024 in East Java, Indonesia.
After the program, guests were treated to native delicacies and refreshments, including coffee from Mt. Apo by Coffee Estacion, and sapin-sapin, biko, okoy, pancit miki bihon, and samalamig by muslim-owned Filipino restaurant Nanay’s Kitchen.
Headquartered in Singapore, ASEF is an intergovernmental not-for-profit organization which advances mutual understanding and collaboration between the people of Asia and Europe through intellectual, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges. The Philippines has been a member of ASEF since its inception in 1997. – END –
