The ManilART 2025 Education Forum featured an educ.ational discussion titled “The Global Filipino as Culture Ambassador,” gathering notable personalities from various fields of arts, culture, media, culinary, and public service. The discussion explored how Filipinos around the world embody and promote Philippine culture globally.
CFO CFO Secretary Dante Klink Ang II, alongside PAFIOO awardee and art curator Mr. Virgilio Cuizon, Chef Roger Asakil Joya representing the culinary arts, Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Cultural Diplomacy Lila Jimenez, performing artist Ms. Diana David, media personality Ms. Daphne Oseña-Paez, presented the various programs of the Commission that promote cultural identity and engagement, especially those designed for overseas Filipino youth. Sec. Ang shared the Virtual Sentro Rizal (VSR) and Youth Leaders in the Diaspora (YouLead), which aims to empower overseas Filipino youth to rediscover their roots and serve as culture ambassadors.
When asked what core Filipino values they carry in their hearts wherever they are, Sec. Ang noted that Filipino values, such as being social and its strong sense of community, form the essence of what makes us uniquely Filipino. Other panelists also provided insights molded by their personal and professional journeys in the Philippines and overseas and shared valuable ideas on what defines Filipino identity in the global stage.
The panelists also reflected on the expanding role of technology in promoting culture. Sec. Ang and Ms. Oseña-Paez both acknowledged that the use of technology and media has become a crucial means for cultural promotion since it enables a wider reach and engagement. Ms. Oseña-Paez also noted that digital platforms now provide artists with new opportunities for creative collaboration and fundraising, citing the case of her daughter who successfully used Kickstarter to fund a film project.
The panelists also discussed the evolving image of Filipinos on the global stage. Ms. Oseña-Paez shared that various government programs are actually in place to support Filipino artists abroad, and that Filipinos’ strong online presence and usage provides an advantage in promoting and mainstreaming our cultural identity as Filipinos in the global arena. Challenges and opportunities in representing Filipino art globally, particularly in Europe, were also discussed by Mr. Cuizon.
When asked about addressing long-term migration, Sec. Ang emphasized the need for continued government support to sustain diaspora engagement programs and cited several CFO initiatives such as the BaLinkBayan Project, VSR, YouLead, and the Philippine Schools Overseas (PSO). These programs aim to strengthen the ties of overseas Filipinos to their heritage and empower overseas Filipino youth to create a global network of ambassadors that can help shape and lobby future policies. He also shared that the CFO is collaborating with the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) team on a research project that will help identify long-term policy directions and strategies to elevate the Filipino profile and define CFO’s future course of action. He expressed hope that this endeavor will contribute in ensuring overseas Filipinos’ success wherever they choose to be.
To conclude the discussion, panelists imparted knowledge on what it means to be a global Filipino and a culture ambassador. Chef Joya related his Filipino identity to food, explaining that dishes carry history. As an example, he said that even Japan’s sushi has Southeast Asian influences. Ms. Oseña-Paez spoke from a mother’s perspective, sharing that her children, as dual citizens, were honed by the Philippine educational system to be resilient. She positively described migration as a gift that allows Filipinos to navigate two diverse homes and embrace multiple identities. Sec. Ang reiterated that Filipinos serve as culture ambassadors by sharing what they love, such as cuisine, art, and music, wherever they are in the world. Asec. Jimenez noted that Filipinos have long been global, as can be seen in the influences of Spanish language that have guided Filipino identity. Mr. Cuizon expressed pride in receiving the PAFIOO award multiple times and proudly sees it as recognition of his work in promoting Filipino culture abroad. Meanwhile, Ms. Diana David stressed that Filipinos are inherently adaptable and carry within themselves the diverse cultural influences that contribute to their global character.
The panel discussion was a component of this years’ ManilART, the first and longest-running annual art fair in the Philippines aimed at promoting Philippine Culture through the visual arts. This year’s exhibit was held in SMX Convention Center, SM Aura, featuring artists from different regions of the country and showcases the best of the best of Filipino art. The project was co-presented by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
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