EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC
OF THE PHILIPPINES


SEOUL REPUBLIC OF KOREA

news

PHILIPPINES PRESENTS FIRST STANDALONE PH PAVILION AT THE 2024 GWANGJU BIENNALE


(PHOTOS-Top Left: Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega welcomes Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to the PH Pavilion with Artist-Curator Ms. Avie Felix, and artist Mr. Veejay Villafranca, screeshot from Arirang TV. Top Right: "Locations of Freedom" Philippine banner. Below: Ribbon-cutting at the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 ASEAN Pavilion attended by Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Officials from Korean Cultural Centers and Government Offices.)

7 September 2024, Gwangju - The 2024 Gwangju Biennale theme of "Pansori - A Soundscape for the 21st Century" explored the interplay of space, images, and sound which inform social, political, ecological, gender, and power dynamics. Under the Artistic Direction of Nicolas Bourriaud, the latest edition is the largest in the history of the biennale with 31 country pavilions and a main pavilion featuring artists using different artistic media.

The Philippine Pavilion entitled "Locations of Freedom" features the works of renowned Filipino artists Adjani Arumpac, Sari Dalena, Toym Leon Imao, Dennis "Sio" Montreal, Paul Eric Roca, Veejay Villafranca with Karl Castro as designer. Avie Felix, one of the participating artists, likewise served as the pavilion curator.

The Philippine Pavilion is supported by the vMeme Contemporary Art Gallery, Fundacion Sanso, Imao Studios, the University of the Philippines Film Institute, the Philippine Embassy in Korea, and the Gwangju Biennale Foundation.

The Philippine pavilion was among those viewed by Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol a day before the opening of the Biennale on 5 September 2024. The other country pavilions visited by the ROK President included Vietnam and Singapore.

Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Artist-Curator Avie Felix, and Artist Veejay Villafranca were present to help guide President Yoon through the country pavilion at the Asia Culture Center of Gwangju.

President Yoon was particularly struck by the photo art of Mr. Villafranca, the works of Felix, and the sculptural pieces by Toym Leon Imao which he said were a "moving homage to those who sacrificed their lives for the attainment of freedom" which strikes a familiar chord in Korean history. The Gwangju Biennale will run from 6 September 2024 to 01 December 2024 at the National Asia Culture Center, Gwangju.

The Philippine Pavilion is part of the ASEAN cluster of pavilions on display at the sprawling National Asia Culture Center a mixed exhibition, art, and library, and multi-use space in Gwangju under the management of the ROK Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Ambassador Dizon-de Vega and Philippine Embassy Cultural Officer Anthony Cornista and all the participating artists likewise took part in the opening ceremony for the ASEAN-Korea Centre Pavilion and the individual country pavilions of six ASEAN member countries. END

Other News


March 10, 2026
PH AMBASSADOR JOINS PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS JR. IN WELCOMING ROK PRESIDENT LEE JAE MYUNG TO THE PHILIPPINES

Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez was honored to join President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in welcoming ROK President Lee Jae Myung to the Philippines for his State Visit from 3 to 4 March 2026, which coincided with the celebration of 77 years of Philippines–Republic of Korea relations.

Read More
March 08, 2026
FILIPINO CADETS GRADUATE WITH HIGH HONORS FROM ROK MILITARY AND NAVAL ACADEMIES

27 February 2026, Seoul and Changwon, ROK. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul congratulates Philippine Cadet 1st Class Guidson T. Domingo of the Korea Military Academy (KMA) and Philippine Midshipman 1st Class Lemuel H. Ego-ogan of the Republic of Korea Naval Academy (ROKNA) on their graduation on 27 February 2026, reflecting the continued excellence of Filipino cadets in premier ROK military institutions and the enduring strength of Philippines–Republic of Korea defense cooperation, including academic exchanges between our armed forces.

Read More
March 04, 2026
Seoul PE joins the 2026 National Women’s Month Celebration

04 March 2026, Seoul - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, along with officials from attached agencies, held a flag-raising ceremony featuring a Lupang Hinirang video with an all-women cast, to start the celebration of the National Women’s Month at the Sentro Rizal Hall, Philippine Embassy in Seoul on 03 March 2026.  

Read More