Gaze the stars and more as the European Union's Viva Europa goes techno

It is time to gaze the stars, score goals, bike to work, and more as the European Union Delegation to the Philippines, together with EU Member States' Embassies and Cultural Institutions, launch Viva Europa 2019, their annual summer cultural season.

This year's theme, Go Techno, is in line with the Copernicus Program, a monitoring system using satellites, that provides data and information useful in various fields like food security, deforestation, climate change, pollution, and natural disasters. A conference of the Copernicus Program was recently held last March.

Leading the line up of EU activities for Viva Europa 2019 is a stargazing activity and a session on stars and constellations, in cooperation with the Manila Astronomical Society, at the Skypark, SM Aura on May 10, 2019, 6:00 PM.

A football event, the Schuman Cup, will be held on May 4, 2019 at Ayala, Alabang. This one day football festival not only pits European diplomats against Filipino professionals in a friendly match, but also provides Filipino children from disadvantaged communities to learn more about football aka soccer. This event is also supported by the German Embassy.

After the success of previous bike tours in Palawan and Guimaras, it is time to pedal once again as the bike tour goes to Bohol on May 6 and 7, 2019. The VeloMai campaign will also be launched as the European Commission promotes the use of bikes to work to help the environment and promote a sustainable lifestyle.

Also returning this year is the Euro-Pinoy Concert on May 7, 2019 at The Ruins in Poblacion, Makati. Featured musicians this year are Czech guitarist and composer Lukáš Sommer, Spanish flamenco guitarist Alex Alcaraz, Filipino percussionist Jean Paul Zialcita, and Filipino-German DJ Marie Badkiss.

EU Ambassador Franz Jessen

This year also sees the eleventh edition of Lakbayin Natin ang EU happening on May 23 at the Museo Pambata. Story telling sessions, games, and various activities for children are lined up for this whole day of exploring and celebrating the EU. This event is also presented by the Embassies of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, and the Netherlands, and the Philippine-Italian Association. 

On May 25-26, 2019, choirs from various parts of the country will compete at the 11th edition of Musica FEUROPA at the historic FEU Auditorium, Far Eastern University. This year will see the introduction of a new commissioned competition piece, El Vasto Mar, by acclaimed Filipino composer Saunder Choi.

Other cultural events by Member State Embassies and Cultural Institutions to look out for this year includes the Día del Libro, presented by the Instituto Cervantes, the cultural arm of the Embassy of Spain, happening on April 27, 2019 at the Ayala Triangle in Makati. The whole day affair devoted to books will be capped by Posporos, a concert featuring Vulk, a Basque punk band from Bilbao, Spain and The Late Isabel, an art rock band from the Philippines. This collaborative performance comes after a week long musical residence for these two independent bands that will be filmed for a later broadcast on Jack TV. The Posporos project is presented by the Embassy of Spain, Instituto Cervantes and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

The rerun of Baka Naman Hindi, translated from Georges Feydeau's French play La Puce à l'oreille/A Flea in Her Ear will be the 6th installment of Les Jeudis Culturels by the Embassy of France happening on April 25, 2019 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Adapted to Filipino by Virgilio “Beer” Flores, this play stars TV/film actors Ricky Davao, Rina Reyes, Lou Veloso, along with other veterans of the theater stage.

Various film screenings are also on the horizon like the return of Moviemov: Italian Cinema Now happening on April 23-26, 2019 at the Cinematheque Centre Manila at the Film Development Council of the Philippines. Aside from the nine films to be screened for free, a delegation from Italy, led by Goffredo Bettini, along with a few actors and film industry personalities, will also grace the festival. Moviemov is also presented by the Philippine-Italian Association, the Embassy of Italy, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

Viva Europa 2019 team

The Goethe Institute presents Win Wenders: A Legacy of Art house Classics, a retrospective of German filmmaker Win Wenders. Nine of his films will be shown for free during the weekend from April 27-May 26, 2019 also at the Cinematheque Centre Manila at FDCP.

The Embassy of Spain offers Clásicos del cine espanol: 4 Spanish Masterpieces, a film screening series happening on May 3 & 10, 2019 at the Ateneo de Manila University.

The Czech Embassy, on the other hand, will show the film Angel of the Lord on June 1, 2019, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in observance of the International Day of Children.

With all these events for Viva Europa 2019 that feel as numerous as the stars in the sky, there is no more reason to be bored from lack of activities and things to do this summer. Read more about these upcoming events in detail in future blog entries.