Poetry and the arts are once again at the heart of the Viva Europa 2022 festival in the Philippines.

The flagship cultural event of the EU Delegation to the Philippines’ (EUD) showcased the two entities' unique cultural diversity and collaborations.

Under the tagline ‘Sama-Sama Together’, Viva Europa 2022 celebrates the partnership between the Philippines and the EU. Embracing the theme of ‘Togetherness and Hope’, this year’s recital featured contributions from Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Ireland, France, Italy, Austria and Poland. Notable Filipino poets from the University of Santo Tomas, including Nerisa del Carmen Guevara, Benedict Parfan, Joselito de los Reyes, and Paul Castillo, also performed. La Punta della Lingua poetry festival from Italy joined the Bersong Euro-Pinoy poetry recital, which was live-streamed on the EUD’s Facebook page.

A highlight of the events, which was launched with the ceremonial lighting of the iconic Rizal Park fountain and Rizal Monument, was the virtual instalment of the Bersong Euro-Pinoy poetry festival on 27 May.

The cultural celebration also features an exhibition of maritime-themed paintings from European and Filipino artists at the Yuchengco Museum, Makati City. The EuroArt Exhibition highlighted aspects of European culture and provided a platform for dialogue.

The exhibition coincided with the EU Green Week (30 May to 5 June) and the lead-up to the 2022 UN Ocean Conference, taking place in Lisbon from 27 June to 1 July.

The Musica FEUropa Chorale Festival continued the EU’s partnership with Far Eastern University by providing a platform for the Philippines’ most promising choral groups to showcase musical masterpieces in European and Filipino languages on 14, 21 and 28 May. Meanwhile, EU Member States, Spain, France, and Italy hosted a series of standalone activities, including film screenings, exhibitions, and live music performances.

Viva Europa 2022 has already garnered considerable media interest, including CNN Philippines. Check out the EUD Facebook for more information.