Sentro Rizal Lecture Series No.4: NCCA Chairman clarifies Filipino identity issues in Laos

(Left and middle photos) Professor Felipe de Leon, Chairman of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, speaks before the Filipino community in Laos. (Right photo) Professor de Leon plays popular Filipino music before the crowd.

Renowned authority on Philippine arts and culture Professor Felipe de Leon, Jr., Chairman of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), spoke before a big gathering of Filipino community members, including their children, last March 20 at the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane on “What Makes Filipinos Filipino.”

The lecture drew a big gathering of community members that included teachers, consultants, nurses, accountants and their families. The evening’s presentation featured the performance of Philippine dance by community children swaying to the music of “Pandanggo sa Ilaw” and an OPM song rendition by the Embassy’s Vice Consul Jose Carlo Morales.

(Left photo) Embassy’s Vice Consul Jose Carlo Morales serenades the crowd with his rendition of OPM song “Your Love.” (Right photo) Filipino community kids to the floor with their dance “Pandanggo sa Ilaw” as part of the evening’s cultural programme under Sentro Rizal.

Before the lecture, NCCA Deputy Executive Director Marlene Ruth Sanchez discussed first the objectives of Sentro Rizal as laid down in the National Heritage Law (Republic Act 10066).

This was followed by Chairman de Leon’s lecture which aimed at promoting greater awareness of Filipino culture.  He explained the distinct Filipino cultural identity such as the Filipino core value of “kapwa.”  Chairman de Leon also noted that Filipinos love to connect and experience the multi-dimensional wholeness of life.

Embassy officers and staff, led by Philippine Ambassador to Laos Maria Lumen B. Isleta (4th, left) and Filipino community members take time to pose with Prof. Felipe de Leon, Jr. (center). NCCA Deputy Executive Director Marlene Ruth Sanchez also joins them(2nd row, rightmost).

The lecture was filled with music and stories that made it thoroughly enjoyable.  Chairman de Leon played Filipino popular music and songs including “Maalaala Mo Kaya,” Dahil Sa Yo,” and “Bayan Ko,” among others.  The Filipino community in Laos greatly appreciated Chairman de Leon’s lecture and many of the attendees considered it as one of the best lectures that they had attended.

In her remarks before the Filipino community, Philippine Ambassador to Laos Maria Lumen B. Isleta acknowledged the full and generous support of the NCCA led by Chairman de Leon in the Embassy’s various projects.  She expressed appreciation for Chairman de Leon’s very insightful and compelling lecture.

The activity was capped with a fellowship dinner served by the Embassy.

Press release courtesy of the Department of Foreign Affairs, 03 April 2014.