SFA-AGR-175-08

DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY OF RP-NORWAY DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

SPARKLED WITH WORLD RENOWNED BAYANIHAN DANCE TROUPE

PERFORMANCE AT THE PRESTIGIOUS OSLO KONSERTHUS

19 March 2008 - The Philippine Embassy in Oslo marked the celebrations of the 60th Anniversary of RP-Norway Diplomatic Relations with the much acclaimed performance of the world-renowned Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company at the prestigious Oslo Konserthus last 10 March.

The event, which also included a Travel Mart, a painting exhibition of Filipino artist Manuel Baldemor, and a Diplomatic Reception at the

Glasshuset beside the Konserthus, was graced by the Diplomatic Corps, the Filipino community, businessmen and top officials from the Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Norwegian Foreign Ministry Deputy Director General for Asian Affairs, Mr. Eivind Homme and Ambassador Victoria Bataclan hailed the long-standing and strong relations betweeen the Philippines and Norway, highlighting excelllent  bilateral realtions in the fields of peace building, renewable energy, aquaculture, the health and service industry, and of course the maritime industry, the anchor of Philippine-Norway relations.

Through the Embassy’s close coordination with DOT-London and the Filipino Community, which was fully committed to the holding of the event, the Bayanihan performance was attended and watched by an international audience of over 1,000 people, some coming from as far away as Bergen, all of whom were in awe after the show.

Department of Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab, joined by reigning Miss Norway, Kirby Ann Basken, a Filipina-Norwegian, and Consul General Evelyn Austria-Garcia, lauded the ”dancing ambassadors” from both Norway and the Philippines.

The performance was an all encompassing cultural showcase of the country, featuring Philippine folk-dances and songs from  as far north as the Cordillera region to those from the T’boli tribe of the south. END

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