Philippine culture is on display in South Korea, after the world-class Ballet Manila dance troupe performed at the Gyeongju World Culture Expo over the weekend. The Filipino community in Seoul is also holding a competition for young Filipino migrants who best embody Philippine culture and values on September 11. The 6th Gyeongju World Culture Expo had designated September 4 as Philippine Day. The highlight of the day was the performance of Ballet Manila, the Philippine representative to the Expo.
Hundreds of Koreans and Filipinos who live in North Gyeongsang Province attended the event, along with Philippine Ambassador Luis T. Cruz
Ballet Manila is performing their interpretation of traditional Philippine dances and modern Pinoy music twice a day at the Expo until Saturday (September 10).
A group of Filipino circus performers will also be participating in the World’s Best Circus section of the Expo, alongside troupes from Russia and China.
The World Culture Expo runs until October 10, with 1.5 million visitors expected to visit. There are 44 countries participating in this year’s event with the theme of "The Story of Millennium ― Love, Light and Nature."
Meanwhile, the Ginoo at Binibining Kalinangang Filipino competition will be held on Sunday in Hyehwa-dong , downtown Seoul.
The event was started in 2008 by the Filipino Catholic community in Seoul, and is held every year during the Chuseok holidays in Korea. Chuseok, also known as the Korean Thanksgiving, is a three-day holiday that falls on September 11 to 13 this year.
The Ginoo at Binibining Kalinangang Filipino contest is open to Filipino migrants in Korea from ages 18 to 35. It aims to show the best of Philippine dance, song, costumes, values and tradition, as well as the best characteristics of Filipino migrants in Korea.
It also seeks to raise funds for the community's different outreach programs such as hospital and medical assistance, scholarship program, emergency deportation and other activities of the Philippine Center.
Tickets to the fund-raising event are 10,000 won (roughly P400). It also gives a chance for the ticketholders to win 1 million won (P39,500) and other prizes in a raffle draw.
"The 10,000 won can go a long, long way to entertain oneself, be proud of being Pinoy, and helping others," organizers said. For more info, online voting and photos pls go to www.sambayanan.org.
There are about 46,000 Filipinos throughout Korea, forming the fifth largest ethnic group, following Chinese, Americans, Vietnamese and Japanese.
source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/09/08/11/philippine-culture-spotlight-south-korea
