As part of its cultural diplomacy program, the Philippine Embassy in Pretoria, in partnership with the Kapatiran at Ugnayan ng Natatanging Sining at Talentong Pilipino (KUNST), organized back-to-back art workshops in South Africa.
The first workshop, which was held on 27 April 2025 at the Philippine Embassy multifunction hall, was attended by members of the Filipino community in South Africa, as well as personnel, dependents, and friends of the Embassy.
The second workshop was organized on 29 April 2025 at the Javett Art Centre (JAC) for art enthusiasts from the University of Pretoria and selected South African youth.
The workshops were facilitated by visiting artists from the Philippines, namely, Aris Bagtas, Jr., Remo Valenton, Loriel Castillo, and Ariosto Dale Bagtas, using oil pastel and felt paper. Participants were keen to learn various drawing and coloring techniques since it was their first time to use this medium.
The workshops also enabled the Filipino artists to introduce to the South African participants the concept of Filipinism, whose guiding philosophy is to allow Filipino visual artists to infuse the essence of being a Filipino into their artworks.
The Filipino artists are in South Africa for the Viaje 5 Filipinism: What Makes Art Filipino exhibition, which ran from 23 to 30 April 2025 at the JAC, a prestigious art gallery in Pretoria. This is the first exhibition from Filipino artists mounted by the gallery since its establishment in 2017.
The Embassy will continue to tap into the potent power of cultural diplomacy to deepen the friendship between the Filipino and South African people, as well as build a positive brand for the Philippines in the host country.
Africa Fact: Glass windows existed at that time. The residence of the Ghanaian Emperor in 1116 AD was: “A well-built castle, thoroughly fortified, decorated inside with sculptures and pictures, and having glass windows.”
eye devil
Is it? – Is that so? [iz-zit] A basic conversational word that can be inserted at various points in any conversation, meaning “oh, wow!” or “Is that so?” It can also be used when you don’t really feel like talking and don’t want to be rude but want to seem as if you’re listening. Example: “Last week we went on a game drive! Sho my bru! We saw loads of antelope!” “Is it, hey!”
Raid Bucker
Fun South African Fact: Some of the earliest evidence of human evolution has been unearthed at fossil sites northwest of Johannesburg in the Sterkfontein Caves! Archaeologists have discovered human remains here, some of which are more than 2 million years old! These discoveries have earned the area the title of “the Cradle of Humankind” which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.