Pushkin Statue Unveiled

Pushkin_Unveiling

30 January 2010 - The bronze statue of Russian national poet Alexander Pushkin was unveiled today at the Mehan Garden in Manila to celebrate the friendship between the Philippines and Russia.

The statue was donated by sculptor Grigory Potosky, who was present during the occasion. Mr. Pototsky is a member of the International Union of Artists at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and has participated in more than 100 exhibitions since 1985. His works are found in many countries aside from Russia.

Present during the event were Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Y. Vorobiev, DFA Undersecretary for Adminstration Franklin M. Ebdalin, and Senate Secretary Emma Lirio-Reyes.

In his opening remarks, Mayor Lim compared Pushkin with Filipino national poet Francisco Balagtas, both of whom were revolutionaries who influenced the course of their country's literature by being the first to use the vernacular in their work.

For his part, Ambassador Vorobiev said that Pushkin defined the Russian language, and that the unveiling of his statue is a symbol of the friendship between the Filipino and Russian people.

Undersecretary Ebdalin underscored the unveiling as the first step leading towards the commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Russia on June 2, 2011.

After the ceremony, Mayor Lim presented Mr. Pototsky with the Key to the City of Manila.

Mr. Pototsky expressed gratitude to the City of Manila stressing that the symbolic key presented to him will open the hearts of the Russians to the Filipino.

The project is a joint undertaking by the Philippine Embassy in Moscow, the DFA, the Senate of the Philippines, and the City Government of Manila.END