TAIWAN believes cultural performances continue to be a strong weapon in forging good bilateral relations among countries.
During a night of ethnic music and dancing and basic Mandarin workshop in-between at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), Taiwanese Ambassador Gary Song-Huann Lin said despite the proximity, Philippines and Taiwan still have a lot to learn from each other.
He said the performance of the 22-member-strong Taiwan Youth Ambassadors contingent was a good way to understand their culture.
“We are closest neighbor, but in our mind-set psychologically, we are far apart. So they are the link for our nations to work together to enhance our mutual understanding. It is based on this concept that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs try to promote mutual understanding and cultural exchanges and even in educational cooperation,” he said.
As part of the Youth Ambassadors Program that has been running since 2009, youth representatives from different universities in Taiwan visit 16 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, North America, Latin America, Europe and Africa.
Led by Minister Odi Shri-ren Sun, the youth ambassadors staged a cultural performance and visited the local governments of Makati City and Tagaytay City.
With the theme, “Dynamic Youth, Friendly Taiwan,” the representatives aimed to highlight a friendly encounter between the two countries, while showcasing Taiwan’s rich cultural heritage and modern innovation and solutions.
The 90-minute performance opened with an aerial photography of ROC and a timeline of Taiwan’s economic and political journey. The second act featured performances inspired by traditions of their indigenous groups.
The third act brought in a full impact of Taiwan’s major ethnic groups, with the introduction of the Holo and the Hakka cultures. The youth ambassadors showcased religious marital ceremony traditions, which included paper umbrellas, clothing and totems that are distinctly Taiwan.
Next in the performance, ROC martial arts, traditional opera, folk arts, calligraphy and musical instruments were shown leaving the audience in complete awe. The youth ambassadors showcased impressive tai-chi techniques and other physical exhibitions.
Showcasing the tea ceremony, the youth ambassadors gave UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy a cup to try the tradition.
The youth showcased technology and achievements in sports in lively dance number, evoking a feel-good vibe from the audience when the lights were turned off and the young ambassadors waved their phones’ camera flashlights with the Thomasian students waving along, as well.
The closing performance involved a giant paper lantern being pulled up as a symbol of the release of goodwill and luck in promoting “compassion without borders” in the international community.
According to Lin, the representatives underwent a vigorous selective process demonstrating their talents and fluency in foreign languages before being chosen as a youth ambassador.
The program’s main goal is to create an avenue for future ambassadors of ROC by orienting them in international affairs and embedding a love for different cultures.
