FEALAC Update

15 January 2004 – The coming together of the East Asian and Latin American regions in Manila for the Forum for East Asia-Latin-America Cooperation (FEALAC) meetings at the end of January will be ushered in by a FEALAC Fiesta to be held at the Ali Mall ground level atrium, at the Araneta Center in Cubao.  The Fiesta’s main feature is a country exhibition to showcase the cultural heritage, cuisine, natural wonders and other aspects, which would be the best of what the FEALAC member-countries have to offer.

“With FEALAC being tagged as one of the country’s diplomatic events for the year, it is fitting to herald the coming together of East Asia and Latin America in the Philippines by the celebration of mutual understanding and respect through culture with Filipino style festivities as the backdrop,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert said.

The Fiesta Exhibit will be opened by a ceremony on Saturday, 17 January 2003 9:30 AM at the front of Ali Mall.  It will be graced by members of FEALAC Diplomatic Corps and the key officials of DFA, DOT, Quezon City and the Araneta Group of Companies.  But to give the opening ceremonies a truly Filipino fiesta flavor, it will be highlighted by a grand parade of nations organized by the Government of Quezon City and Quezon City schools also to take place on the morning of the opening ceremonies.  The grand parade will show off the flags of
the FEALAC member-countries and will come complete with a marching symphonic band and indigenous Filipino street dancing.

To complete the fiesta atmosphere with the FEALAC twist, The Araneta Center has bedecked its main street with traditional Filipino banderitas and hung Philippine flags alongside the flags of the FEALAC member-countries.

Of the 32 FEALAC nations, 20 will be participating in the exhibit, with representative countries from both the East Asia and Latin America side.  The Philippines will also have an exhibit booth arranged for by the Department of Tourism.  Alongside the Philippine exhibit are booths for Tagaytay City and the Philippine Academic Consortium for Latin American studies (PACLAS).

Tagaytay City will be co-hosting the 2004 FEALAC meetings with the city of Manila.  Tagaytay, with its famed view of the spectacular Taal Volcano panorama will be the venue for the foreign ministers of 32 nations from the both sides of the globe when they conduct their ministerial retreat on 30 January 2004.  The ministerial retreat is intended to allow the participating foreign ministers to interact with their counterparts in a more informal and relaxed atmosphere, while still being able to discuss matters that are important to their countries.  END.