The Philippine Embassy in Morocco, in partnership with the Kapatiran at Ugnayan ng Natatanging Sining at Talento (KUNST), hosted the vernissage of Viaje 3 Filipinism What Makes Art Filipino on 06 May 2024 at the Abla Ababou Gallery in Rabat, Morocco

In his welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Morocco Leslie J. Baja underscored that the exhibition was a way of introducing Filipino contemporary visual arts to Morocco. He added that culture was a major bridge linking the Philippines to Morocco and that the exhibition was the first major event to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Morocco and the fifth anniversary of the reopening of the Embassy in 2025. 

After the Ambassador’s remarks, the exhibition curator Mr. Virgilio Cuizon introduced the concept of Filipinism to the guests, describing it as a unique expression of an artist’s personality and character, inspired by their childhood environment, their places of origin, and their language or dialect. 

The exhibition showcases paintings of six Filipino visual artists: Batilyo, Yelcast, Doy Kastilyo, Lerma Julian, Eric Punzalan, and Frederick Epistola. Each artist presented their own expression of what makes their art Filipino – childhood memories for Batilyo; law of life for Yelcast; familial and romantic relationships for Doy Kastilyo; the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity for Lerma Julian; sceneries and landscapes for Eric Punzalan; and an amalgam of Western and Filipino historic and artistic influences for Frederick Epistola.  

Gracing the occasion were guests from the diplomatic corps, the private sector, the Filipino community, and the art community in Rabat. They were impressed by the artistic prowess of the Filipino artists, the diversity of their techniques, and the inspiration behind each artwork. The vernissage also received good coverage from the local press.

Part of the proceeds from the sale of the artworks will be donated to the Education for All (efamorocco.org), an organization that provides the opportunity of a secondary education for girls from the High Atlas mountain region, an area that was severely affected by the September 2023 earthquake. 

Through this exhibition, which will run from 6 to 15 May 2024, the Philippine Embassy hopes to showcase the creativity and diversity of Filipino artists, and to present the richness of Philippine visual arts in Morocco. Viaje 3 Filipinism What Makes Art Filipino is the first exhibition organized by KUNST in Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines.

As part of its cultural diplomacy program and in celebration of National Heritage Month, the Philippine Embassy in Rabat, in partnership with Kapatiran at Ugnayan ng Natatanging Sining at Talentong Pilipino (KUNST), hosted an art lecture and workshop for artistically-inclined members of the Filipino community on 5 May 2024 at the Abla Ababou Gallery in Rabat, Morocco.

In his candid and informal lecture, Mr. Virgilio Cuizon, the Head of Delegation of the Viaje 3 exhibition, introduced the concept of ‘Filipinism’ to the attendees, which he described as a unique expression of an artist’s personality and character to form a Filipino identity. He emphasized that inspiration can emerge from the artists’ childhood environment, their places of origin, and their language or dialect. He believes that these elements contribute to the expression of ‘Filipinism’ in their work.

Visiting Filipino artists, namely Lerma Julian, Eric Punzalan, Frederick Epistola, Doy Kastilyo and Yelcast facilitated the art workshop. Using oil pastel and felt paper, the participants sketched landscape, life, and still life images applying the various drawing and coloring techniques taught by the artists.

Mr. Cuizon interviewed some participants to ask them about their experience during the workshop. Some of them described it as relaxing, therapeutic, and nakakabata, while others noted how interesting it was to use oil pastel with felt paper and sandpaper to create pieces with more texture and depth, compared to using a regular drawing pad or board.

As tokens of appreciation, the artists presented souvenir artworks to the participants which were warmly received.

The Filipino artists are in Morocco for the Viaje 3 Filipinism What Makes Art Filipino exhibition which runs from 7 to 15 May 2024 at the Abla Ababou Gallery in Rabat. This is the first exhibition from Asian artists mounted by the gallery since it opened its doors in 2017.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines.

The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Mr. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has by Proclamation declared Tuesday, May 14, 2024, as National Unification Day and is to be observed throughout the Republic as a National Holiday. 

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the day is in consonance with an act of Legislature of the Republic passed in 1960, declaring the 14th of May of each year as a National Unification Day, realizing the benefits to be accrued from the Unification and Integration Policy.

The Proclamation recounts that since the Unification and Integration Policy became a cogent part of the National Development Plan, the people of Liberia have seen marked progress and improvement in all spheres of national endeavor, particularly in the economic, educational, communication and social fields.

It recalls that the wisdom of the Unification Policy has found expression in the national fabric through the representation of all sections of the country in the Legislature and every other branch of Government, thereby promoting conditions of peace and unity.

The Presidential Proclamation stresses that being mindful of the years of civil strife in the country and its harmful impacts on the people of Liberia, it becomes imperative that all Liberians embrace the noble ideals enshrined in the Unification Act to promote unity and peace among all Liberians.

The Proclamation furthers that the Government of Liberia adheres to the principles of justice, equality, fair play, and equal opportunities for all, regardless of tribe or clan, creed, religion, or economic status so that Liberians might be united in a consolidated whole, as a result of this national aspiration, a Unification and Integration Program was enunciated and pursued in the country.

President Boakai also directed that appropriate programs be organized to celebrate the day.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Barrie Freeman of the United States as his new Deputy Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).

Ms. Freeman succeeds Giovanie Biha of Burundi, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her accomplishments in West Africa and the Sahel, including her role in advancing implementation of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel.  The Secretary-General also thanks Khassim Diagne of Senegal, who has been providing steadfast support to UNOWAS in the interim.

Ms. Freeman brings to the position over 30 years of wide-ranging experience in international peace and security.  She has served since 2021 as Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).  Prior to that, she served as Deputy Head and Political Director in the Peacebuilding Support Office of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs from 2018 to 2021.  She also brings valuable field experience as Chief of Staff from 2016 to 2018, and, before that, as Director of Political Affairs in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

Prior to her work with the United Nations, Ms. Freeman served in senior positions at the National Democratic Institute in Washington, D.C., the United States, and with the United States Department of State, where she held multiple positions in Washington, D.C., and in several African countries, including in Western Africa.

Ms. Freeman has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tulane University and completed master’s coursework at Georgetown University.  She is fluent in English and French.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Secretary-General.