Press Release
PR No. MJD-29-2021

FILIPINO PAINTINGS AND LOVE SONGS SHOWCASED AT THE “AMBAG NG PILIPINO SA JEDDAH: MGA PAMANANG SINING AT AWITIN” ART EXHIBIT AND CONCERT DURING PH HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION

23 May 2021, Jeddah – The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah (Jeddah PCG) staged an “Ambag ng Pilipino sa Jeddah” art exhibit and concert featuring OPM (Original Pilipino Music) songs, in celebration of National Heritage Month.

Held on 21 May 2021 at the Toshi Restaurant 2, the activity started with the opening of an art exhibit called “Pamanang Sining” featuring award-winning Jeddah-based Filipino artists Architects Arnel Punzalan and Larry Villanueva. The exhibited artworks depict  Filipino tangible artefacts, and colorful festivals in the Philippines which have deep cultural and religious roots.

After the opening of the art exhibit, the Pamanang Awitin concert ensued, with Filipino group of singers called the Toshi All-Star Performers gave powerful renditions of Filipino love songs and “Manila Sounds” such as “O Lumapit Ka”, “Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko”, etc.

Paintings of Arch. Larry Villanueva

Paintings of Arch. Arnel Punzalan

Jeddah PCG’s Acting Head Consul Mary Jennifer Dingal, Vice-Consul Sheila Mae Briones, SSS Representative Michael Ingal, and Francisco Saguinsan of POLO-OWWA also performed at the event.

In her message, Consul Dingal said that the Ambag ng Filipino sa Jeddah art exhibit and concert does not only show how much great Filipino talent there is in Jeddah; it also shows that the art works and music of the Filipino have different stories to tell that reflect the collective traditions, practices and experiences of the Filipino, thus, forming part our national heritage and identity.

“Sa pagbabalik-tanaw natin sa ating mga sining at awiting Pilipino, naway mas mapatibay natin ang ating pagmamahal hindi lamang sa ating musika, sining at kultura, kundi lalong higit, ang pagmamahal natin sa ating bayan at sa ating pagka-Pilipino,” Consul Dingal added.

The Toshi All-Star Performers singing popular OPM love songs

Vice-Consul Sheila Mae Briones and SSS Representative Michael Ingal perform their own renditions of Filipino classics

The “Ambag ng Pilipino sa Jeddah” activity for the 2021 National Heritage Month is a project of Jeddah PCG, in cooperation with Toshi Restaurant and Mr. Blue Initiatives and Productions. -END-