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


July 06, 2026
PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH FILIPINOS IN INCHEON CITY, BUCHEON CITY, BUPYEONG DISTRICT AND KWANGJEOK TOWNSHIP

Ambassador Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez met with Filipinos in Incheon, Bucheon, Bupyeong and Kwangjeok on the following occasions:

Read More
July 06, 2026
PH AMBASSADOR CALLS ON EPIS OFFICIALS IN SEJONG CITY

18 June 2026, SEJONG CITY - Ambassador Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez, accompanied by Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General Edwin Gil Mendoza, Labor Attache Rosemarie Duquez and other MWO Seoul officials, met with officials of the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (EPIS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) led by its President, Mr. Dong Jin Yoon in Sejong City and discussed issues related to the Seasonal Workers Program (SWP) on 18 June 2026 at the EPIS Headquarters in Sejong City.    

Read More
July 05, 2026
PH, ROK REAFFIRM STRONG COOPERATION UNDER STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

1 July 2026, Seoul - Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez met with ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General for Southeast Asian Affairs Lee Donggy on 19 June 2026 to discuss ways to further advance the Philippines-ROK Strategic Partnership. The meeting reaffirmed the active and wide-ranging cooperation between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea across political, economic, development, security, and people-to-people fields. Both sides also exchanged views on ASEAN-ROK cooperation, particularly in light of the Philippines’ role as ASEAN Chair in 2026, and underscored the importance of sustained engagement in advancing shared regional priorities. They were joined by ROK MOFA Desk Officer Park Youngchan and Second Secretary and Consul Reisha Olavario, Head of the Political Section of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul. END 

Read More