All things fine and French at Alliance Francaise

Over 120 years ago, Alliance Francaise, a non-profit organization, was created in Paris, France, with the purpose of teaching French around the globe. Initial board members included renowned scientist Louis Pasteur and writer Jules Verne. Since then the network has expanded and today, it counts over 1,071 centers all over the world.

The idea of establishing such an organization in Cebu began when Michel Lhuillier, honorary consul of France for the Visayas, hosted an intimate dinner for Ambassador of France to the Philippines Gerard Chesnel.

In the course of their conversation, Lhuillier, proud of his dual citizenship, expressed his desire to help promote French culture and strengthen ties between both countries. Chesnel, without a moment’s hesitation, asked him if he would be willing to establish an Alliance Francaise in Cebu. Ever so gallant and generous, Lhuilllier pledged and committed all-out support for such a laudable project.

Ana Marie and Johnny Dizon, Glenn Loop, Jean Franchois Laccasagne

In 2007, Lhuillier founded Les Amis de la France together with a group of Filipinos, French residents and other nationalities. After two years, Les Amis became Alliance Francaise, the official cultural center and only official European cultural office in Cebu and its neighboring islands.

The board of directors is led by Michel Lhuillier as president, Jaime Picornell, vice president; Judge Romulo Senining, corporate secretary and treasurer; Louis Thevenin, director; and trustees Fr. Dionisio Miranda, SVD, Marlinda Angbetic Tan, and this writer. Completing the list are Mary Ann Farrugia as project manager and Juliette Blouin as deputy director.

The language center, located in the very heart of the Visayan capital, is a genuine international meeting place for people of diverse backgrounds who are interested in learning about anything French, be it the romantic language, the fabulous cuisine, arts and culture or business prospects.

Georgia Jauslin and Jose Francisco Farrugia

Recently, an opportunity presented itself to entertain Cebuanos at the Ayala Activity Center when the Mobile, a modern circus performance by the French company Chabatz d’ Entrar, performed a 55-minute unique show of board circus that demonstrated stability, skill, and talent sprinkled with comical pantomime.

The three French acrobats Damien Caufepe, Olivier Leger, and Cyrille Tille displayed carefully balanced leads and construction with limitless possibilities against a backdrop of wooden planks — specifically called Kapla boards — as props. Equilibrium, board dance, articulated mobiles, counterweights, and juggling with beakers are part of the feats and skills of these amazing performers through impromptu assembly, juggling acts and teeterboard antics, all based on the theory of balance and counterweights.

The company was created in 1997 and has since settled down in a rural area where they offer workshops and performances. The group is currently on tour in the Philippines while their next stop will be Malaysia.