The Philippine Pavilion at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai will be designed around the theme of the coral reef of the Philippine Sea.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) led the Philippine Organizing Committee for Expo 2020 in presenting to media the Philippine theme of the “Bangkóta,” an ancient Tagalog word for the coral reef.
The Philippine Pavilion is designed by Filipino architecture company Budji+Royal Architecture+Design. Marian Roces curates the Philippines’ presentation in a 3,000 square meter space with a 1,300 square meter enclosed area. It will also feature five exhibits, an artisanal café, and Go Lokal! concept stores for Philippine micro, small and medium enterprises.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez shared in a press conference on the eve of Philippine Independence Day that the theme “Bangkóta” is “perfect representation and metaphor for the Filipinos who are spread all over the world but remained connected through travel, migration, and technology.”
SEE: Dubai World Expo 2020 to showcase modern Philippine attractions and innovations
Secretary Lopez added, “The theme highlights the country’s natural resources, as well as the similarities between the coral reef and Filipinos – both, grow into colonies that thrive throughout the world.
“Our most important goal in participating at the expo is to present a country brand that reflects our rich history and our values as caring, compassionate and creative people.”
The Philippine government is spending less than P1 billion for the country’s participation at the Expo 2020 Dubai, the DTI chief revealed. He explained that to ensure the ROI, the amount being spent will earn back more than the Expo cost through tourism, trade, services, and investments as well as organizing an investment mission to Dubai to expand the opportunities while coinciding with the event.
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Architect Royal Pineda of Budji+Royal Architecture+Design shared that mesh are to be used as the primary material as “a way to represent the Filipino people truthfully, rather than competing with other countries.”
Marian Roces will be curating the 2020 pavilion into five main exhibits:
- 4,000 Years Young
- Modern Becomes Filipino
- The Muslims of the Philippines
- The Coraline People
- Oceans Pacific
The exhibits will serve to illustrate the country’s history before the Spanish colonization in 1521. The aim is “to change the world’s mindset about the country and Filipino’s mindset about themselves.”
In line with this goal, March 16, 2021 has been chosen as the date for the Philippine National Day during the Expo 2020 Dubai. The celebration aims to change the people’s mindset about the historic meeting of the Spanish visitors and the locals on March 16, 1521. The organizers say the mindset should bechanged from the day Magellan discovered the Philippines – to the day Filipinos discovered Magellan. The day commemorates the 500th anniversary of Magellan’s arrival in the Philippines.
The Philippine Pavilion will be set up at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates from October 2020 to April 2021. The construction of the pavilion will start in October 2019.
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