The Philippines had its first ever Euro Village on 3 and 4 June, in a dynamic showcase of arts and culture from across the EU for nearly 5 000 people at Capitol Commons Park in Pasig City.

Organised by the EU Delegation to the Philippines (EUD) along with 14 EU Member States (Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden) and Ukraine, the two-day event presented a broad range of food, crafts, music, sports and more. It revealed the diversity of the EU and its people along with sustainability partnerships and practices accessible to Filipinos, paving the way for closer exchange and trade opportunities.

In support of the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy for fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food systems around the world, 35 booths and snack kiosks introduced locals to Belgian waffles, Czech beer, Danish cheese, German bread, French pastries, Polish sausages, Romanian wines, and other European food and crafts. Partnering with Green Space, Scholars of Sustenance Philippines and EcoNest, the event further promoted sustainable lifestyles and reduced emissions, while ensuring the event’s own environmental friendliness in accordance with guidelines by the European Commission.

Also featured were French, German, Italian and Spanish language lessons, available for free to the public courtesy of European cultural institutions Alliance Française de Manille, Goethe Institut, Instituto Cervantes Manila and the Philippine-Italian Association.

Romanian and Ukrainian artists took the stage to deliver musical performances, while Finnish and Hungarian games ‘mölkky’ and ‘teqball’ were also demonstrated for audiences.

The timing of Euro Village came in celebration of Europe Day – the anniversary of the founding of the EU – on 9 May. Observed every month of May, Europe Day is an annual celebration of peace, solidarity, diversity and unity, in the spirit of the Schuman declaration in 1950. Euro Village was originally scheduled for the end of May but was rescheduled due to typhoon Better (Mawar).

The event – and its opening ceremony with the EU Ambassador to the Philippines, EU Member State Ambassadors, national officials from the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Tourism and local officials from Pasig City – received exhaustive coverage by over 50 media agencies and outlets including Agimat, Business Mirror, CNN Philippines, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, Philippine News Agency and Republic Asia.

Over 2 500 people followed the event page on social media, demonstrating strong interest from across the Philippines. Photos from the event can be seen on EUD’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.