Eid'l Fitr Celebrations to Promote Tourism in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is very much involved in promoting Eid'l Fitr celebrations in the Philippines as another tourist attraction in the Philippines.

Events promoting Eid'l Fitr festivities are lined up at the Atrium of The Block at SM City North EDSA until August 18 to highlight the amazing culture and crafts of our Muslim brothers.

A mini-exhibit started the celebrations at the Podium in Ortigas Center last August 2 to 8 and then August 9 began the opening of the Eid'l Fitr Festival to greet everyone Eid Mubarak.

The Eid'l Fitr Festival is organized by the Magbassa Kita Foundation led by it's chairperson, former Senator Santaniuna Rasul is featuring a variety of activities from country displays by the different Islamic embassies in the country; institutional exhibits by LGUs, government agencies, and donor agencies working on peace and development initiatives; trade fair products from Mindanao; fashion exhibit on traditional Muslim attires; interactive Salam villages; and cultural presentations.

The sights, sounds and even the food during the opening of the festivities was remarkably fascinating. Do check out the details of the event from my previous blog:

http://www.wazzuppilipinas.com/2013/08/dot-joins-filipino-muslims-in-eidl-fitr.html

Gilas Pilipinas : Silver Medal Awardee in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Statement of Secretary Edwin Lacierda on Gilas Pilipinas’ silver medal finish in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships:

"The Aquino administration joins the Filipino people in congratulating Gilas Pilipinas for winning the silver medal in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships—and with it, a ticket to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

This victory is the culmination of years of hard work, belief, and perseverance from our players and their families, from our coaching staff, from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas led by Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, and, most of all, from the entire Filipino nation, who has always stood behind the national team through their struggles and triumphs.

In unison, the nation urged our team forward, and with consummate “puso,” they laid everything on the line for flag and country. Gilas Pilipinas has shown the world that no one can outsize the heart of the Filipino. May their performance inspire every Filipino to relentlessly pursue excellence, no matter what field they find themselves in, so that, together, we may fulfill our shared aspiration of a Philippine nation greater than ever before."

Ukiyo-e: Art and Tradition at Baguio Museum

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Ukiyo-e", Japanese traditional woodcut printing exhibition is on view at Baguio Museum from August 10 to 27. The exhibition is part of a month long celebration of Tanabata Festival in Baguio.

The art of ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"), originated in the metropolitan culture of Edo (Tokyo) during the period of Japanese history, when the political and military power was in the hands of the shoguns, and the country was virtually isolated from the rest of the world.

It is an art closely connected with the pleasures of theatres, restaurants, teahouses, geisha and courtesans in the even then very large city. Many ukiyo-e prints by artists like Utamaro and Sharaku were in fact posters, advertising theatre performances and brothels, or idol portraits of popular actors and beautiful teahouse girls.

But this more or less sophisticated world of urban pleasures was also animated by the traditional Japanese love of nature, and ukiyo-e artists like Hokusai and Hiroshige have had an enormous impact on landscape painting all over the world.