Ankara, Türkiye – 01 October 2024 – The Philippine Embassy in Ankara, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MOCT) of Türkiye and Başkent University, hosted a unique ceramic art workshop dubbed as “Painting the Magic of Filipino Parol” on 28 September 2024 at the Ankara Arts and Sculpture Museum in Altindağ, Ankara.
Above photo: Vice Consul Emile Josef B. Garcia welcomes the participants of the Ceramic Art Workshop featuring the giant parols/lanterns of the Philippines and gives a background about the Christmas traditions in the Philippines and the cultural significance of the parol/lanterns for Filipinos. Below: Director Sibel Aktas of the Ceramic Art and Application Center of Baskent University explains the mechanics of the workshop. (Embassy photos)
The workshop, conducted by Turkish artist Ms. Sibel Aktas, Director of the Ceramic Art and Application Centre of Baskent University, was part of the Ministry's Türkiye Kultur Yolu Festivali (Cultural Road Festival) held all over Türkiye. The activity is also part of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Türkiye.
The participants of the Ceramic Art Workshop show their giant lantern ceramic artwork. With them are Cultural Officer Vanesa T. Sumera and Turkish Artist Director Sibel Aktas of Baskent University (7th and 6th from left). (Embassy photo).
Twenty-five (25) pre-registered participants, composed of Turkish university students and museum visitors, painted on ceramic plates the colorful and vibrant designs of Filipino giant parol or lanterns of Pampanga province that are showcased every December at the Ligligan Parul or the Giant Parol Festival.
Pampanga is a province located in the northern part of the Philippines and is considered the Christmas Capital of the country, in view of the colorful lantern displays in the province during Christmas season and its booming lantern industry.
Vice Consul Emile Josef Garcia, Cultural Officer Vanesa T. Sumera, Attache Wendel Gaa, and Turkish Artist Director Sibel Aktas with one of the participants of the Ceramic Art Workshop, showing his colorful giant lantern ceramic artwork. (Embassy photo).
The Philippine Embassy team, led by Vice Consul Emile Josef B. Garcia on behalf of Ambassador Henry S. Bensurto Jr., assisted in the workshop and explained to the participants the cultural significance of giant Christmas lanterns in Philippines, a country that has the longest Christmas celebration, which starts in September and lasts until the first week of January on the feast of Epiphany.
The participants paint their own version design of giant parol/lanterns in the ceramic plates at the Ceramic Art Workshop. (Embassy photo).
Türkiye is famous for its ceramic art and this cultural activity created a meaningful and enriching experience for all participants, celebrating a beautiful fusion of both FIlipino and Turkish art and culture.
The Philippine Embassy, through Vice Consul Emile Josef B. Garcia and Cultural Officer Vanesa T. Sumera, awards a plaque of appreciation to Director Sibel Aktas of Baskent University for conducting the Ceramic Art Workshop. (Embassy photo).
At the end of the workshop, Vice Consul Garcia presented a Plaque of Appreciation signed by Ambassador Bensurto, to Director Aktas in recognition of her outstanding contribution and dedication in conducting the Ceramic Art Workshop and her creativity and inspiring work to foster a deeper appreciation for Philippine culture.
Philippine Embassy showcases Filipino culture, food and tourism; highlights Paskong Pilipino to the Turkish audience
As a preliminary activity of the ceramic art workshop, the Philippine Embassy team, with members of the Filipino community, held a cultural and tourism event showcasing Philippine culture, food and tourism, and Filipino Christmas traditions, which attracted more than a hundred curious visitors.
Philippine Embassy Attachés Vanesa T. Sumera and Wendell Gaa and members of the Filipino community pose at the colorful display of Philippine cultural and food items. (Embassy photo)
The Philippine Embassy decorated the venue with traditional Filipino parol/lanterns and the colorful parulsampernandu from San Fernando, Pampanga that created a festive vibe. Cultural items and tourism posters were displayed and Filipino food – pancit, and Filipino rice cakes puto and kutsinta – were served to the guests.
Turkish visitors line up to see the cultural display, get tourism brochures, and have a taste of Filipino rice cakes - puto and kutsinta- and the famous Filipino noodle dish - pancit. (Embassy photo)
The traditional Tinikling dance, performed by the two Filipino youth, attracted more audience. Some of them were eager to learn the Tinikling dance.
Leahna Mae Guiritan and Jefanie Galo, Filipino youth volunteers, perform the traditional Tinikling dance before the Turkish audience. Tapping the bamboo sticks are their mentors Nowela Yanos and Cecile Eguia. (Embassy photo)
The Filipino community members teach the Turkish visitors on how to dance the Tinikling. (Embassy photo)
The Embassy also conducted a parol/lantern-workshop where the participants learned how to make traditional Filipino star-shaped Christmas lanterns. The Philippine Embassy shared this Filipino Christmas tradition to the Turkish participants who found the activity meaningful and fun.
Participants of the parol-making workshop design their own lanterns. (Embassy photo).
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