SEOUL, 8 June 2016 - Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez hosted on Wednesday, 8 June 2016, a welcoming luncheon for the members of Ballet Philippines, who arrived the previous day for a special performance for the diplomatic community on the occasion of the 118th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence.

The performing arts troupe, composed of 17 dancers and nine administrative and technical crew, was led by Ballet Philippines President Ms Maria Margarita "Margie" Moran-Floirendo and Artistic Director Paul Alexander Morales. They were accompanied by Michelle Reyes of the Cultural Diplomacy Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which sponsored the event.

"It's an honor for our embassy to welcome Ballet Philippines to Seoul," Ambassador Hernandez said as he and his wife, Mme Ana Hernandez, and their daughter Catherine welcomed the company at the luncheon.

"I'm confident Ballet Philippines' performance tomorrow, the likes of which have not been seen in Seoul in recent memory, will serve as best face of public diplomacy for the Philippines here and enhance the people-to-people contacts between our two countries," he told Ms Moran-Floirendo, a national icon as the Philippines' second winner of the Miss Universe pageant in 1973, a distinction repeated only last year with the victory of Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.

Ballet Philippines, the country's flagship professional and classical contemporary dance company, is slated to perform "Masterpieces: Celebrating the Tapestry of Filipino Culture and Friendship" before an invitation-only audience of diplomats, Korean government officials and business executives, and Filipino community leaders at the 600-seat Hoam Hall of Performing Arts on 9 June 2016.

The two-hour program, which has been performed on tour in the United States, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and in China, is made up of 11 pieces handpicked from the company's extensive repertoire, mixing genres including classical, neoclassical, contemporary, Filipino neo-ethnic, and abstract, among others. Apart from Seoul, Ballet Philippines will perform the same program in Jakarta.

The Philippines is the only country in Asia that boasts of three full-time ballet companies, including Ballet Philippines, which was founded in 1969 and is widely recognized today as a cornerstone of contemporary Filipino identity.

With a repertoire of almost 500 choreographic works, Ballet Philippines' wide-ranging, eclectic repertory is unparalleled in Asia. It stages full-length classical ballets, internationally recognized masterworks, and indigenous works of Filipino folklore and social issues, which all result in festive and vibrant shows that are uniquely and distinctly Filipino.