Europe invades Manila with Viva Europa 2013

"Viva Europa," the European Union's biggest cultural showcase in the Philippines, kicks off today, Thursday, bringing to Manila the best of European art, music, dance, film, languages, food and poetry.

For the first time this year, the celebrations will include a culinary festival highlighting Europe's diverse cuisine and food culture. Events include chef demonstrations, special European menus at select restaurants, pub quizzes, food tasting, culinary film screenings and tongue-twisting language quizzes.

This year's Viva Europa will open the fifth edition of "Bersong EuroPinoy," where European diplomats alongside well-known Filipino writers recite European and Filipino poetry on April 20 at the Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City.

Two years ago, Bersong EuroPinoy was awarded the Gawad Jaime C. De Veyra – Natatanging Parangal from the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (Commission of the Filipino Language) for "its continuous support and contribution to the awareness and growth of the Filipino language and literature, culture and the arts."

This poetry exchange coincides with the popular Dia del Libro (International Book Day) in Spain and will feature Spanish cuisine, wines, games and books. A rose is given in exchange for every book sold in the tradition of the Dia del Libro in Spain.

A European children's festival dubbed "Lakbayin Natin ang EU" (Journey to Europe) will enable Filipino children to experience a weeklong festival of children's films, literature, storytelling, arts and crafts and lots of merrymaking and fun from May 14-17 in Museo Pambata, Roxas Boulevard, Manila.  European diplomats and staff from EU Cultural Institutes will visit the non-government organizations and present their activities.

For the fifth time, the Far Eastern University in Manila joins the celebrations by spearheading a choral contest dubbed "Musica FEUROPA" in collaboration with the EU cultural group. The choral competitions with participants coming from Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite and Visayas will be held from May 24-25 at FEU, Manila.

A total of 23 choirs competed in the fourth run of Musica FEUropa, the only choral competition in the Philippines supported by the European Union and produced by Far Eastern University through its President’s Committee on Culture and Admissions and External Relations Office.

Illustrious names in the Philippine choral scene adjudicated for both the high school and open categories, namely Eudenice Palaruan, Maria Theresa Vizconde Roldan, Oscar Pantaleon, Jonathan Velasco, Fidel Calalang, Arwin Tan, Ed Manguiat and Rodolfo Delarmente. The winners of Musica FEUropa IV were Boscorale from Don Bosco Makati with Himig Rosena from Colegio de Santa Rosa, Makati and the University of the Philippines Los Baños Rural High School Glee Club as runners-up.