PHILIPPINE DESIGN FEATURED IN A FASHION SHOW IN STOCKHOLM
14 October 2022, Stockholm – The International Women’s Club (IWC), a social club that aims to foster friendships and goodwill amongst women living in Sweden, organized a luncheon and fashion show on 11 October 2022 at the Operaterrassen in Stockholm to benefit Child10, a non-profit organization.
IWC Club President Margareta Eidensten opened the show featuring traditional national costumes of members to showcase the culture and history of their respective countries. Featured were lady Ambassadors such as Thailand Ambassador Kanchana Patarachoke wearing a traditional chong kben, Malaysia Ambassador Nur Ashikin Mohd Taib wearing a baju kurung, and Philippine Ambassador Maria Lumen Isleta wearing a feminized embellished version of the piña fabric barong Tagalog, as well as spouses of the Ambassadors of Georgia, India, Bangladesh, Morocco, among others.
After the introductions of lady Ambassadors, spouses and members’ traditional national costumes, the show proceeded to showcase more traditional costumes as worn by professional models. Among the countries showcased were the U.S. (Hawaii), Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Hungary, India, Thailand, China, Egypt, Morocco, Rwanda, Finland, the Philippines, and Sweden.
The Philippine costumes were modelled by Ms. Jenny Syquia-Skarne who wore her bespoke Filipino terno with signature butterfly sleeves and fully embroidered bodice, and Ms. Jenny Hansen who wore a baro or “traje de mestisa” made of piña silk. They both elicited appreciative applause as they walked past the audience.
The charitable event was carried out in partnership with Child10, a non-profit organization that aims to eradicate child trafficking by supporting vulnerable children. Members of the Club had an opportunity to hear from Mr. Jacorb Flärdh, Secretary General of Child10, and the projects that the organization is currently implementing. END.
The Philippines had a strong presence at the event with its IWC members led by Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta (third from left) who was joined by Ms Aya Sunga Askert, Ms. Jenny Syquia -Skarne, Ms. Patricia Santos, Ms Jenny Hansen, Ms. Rachelle Hansen, Dr Ivee Hidvegi, and Ms. Susan Fries.
Representing the Philippines in the fashion show were Ms. Jenny Syquia-Skarne (left photo) and Ms. Jenny Hansen (right photo).
Ambassador Nur Ashikin Binti Mohd Taib of Malaysian Embassy wearing baju kurung, is shown with IWC members in their Swedish and Finnish national costumes (left photo), Ambassador Maria Lumen Isleta of the Philippines showcasing a feminized embellished version of the piña fabric barong Tagalog (middle photo), Ambassador Kanchana Patarachoke of the Royal Thai Embassy donning traditional Thai chong kben (right photo).
Traditional attire showcased in a fashion show.
VISIT BY ASEAN COMMITTEE IN STOCKHOLM TO GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN
14 October 2022, Stockholm – Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta, together with members of the ASEAN Committee in Stockholm (ACS), conducted an economic outreach mission on 04 - 05 October 2022, in Gothenburg, Sweden.
To start off its engagements in Gothenburg, ACS members, composed of the Ambassadors of Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam paid courtesy calls on local government officials. Ms. Anneli Rhedin, the Lord Mayor of Gothenburg, welcomed the delegation to the city and briefed them on its history and evolution as well as the challenges it faces with the fast paced development it was undergoing.
Mr. Stefan Tolgfors, Governor of Västra Götaland County, also warmly welcomed the delegation to the Governor’s Residence / Office located at the center of the city and talked about some interesting facts about Gothenburg. He reminisced about his visits to some of the ASEAN countries especially during his previous stints at the Trade and Defense Ministries.
Company Visits. The ACS visit to Gohenburg was undertaken with the end goal of strengthening economic relations and exploring potential collaboration with the Swedish business sector based in the city. Among those meetings were with Business Region Gothenburg (BRG), Volvo Group, Volvo Cars, Lindholmen Science Park AB, HSB Living Lab, and Aqua Robur.
Gothenburg is a vital contributor in the area of sustainable development as it is a hotspot for innovation and technology. A notable factor in its success is the continued engagement of its citizens, its companies, and its policy-makers in the city’s development.
The ACS regularly engages in discussions on how to raise the profile of ASEAN in Sweden, both at government and private sector levels. Special meetings by Swedish government officials, members of the foreign policy circles, and the business sector complement the regular meetings with the end view in enhancing the ASEAN-Sweden partnership. END.
ASEAN Committee in Stockholm (ACS) meets with Ms. Anneli Rhedin, the Lord Mayor of Gothenburg. From left, Ambassador Dang Duong Phan of Vietnam, Ambassador Bounliep Houngvongson of Lao PDR, Ambassador Maria Lumen Isleta of the Philippines, Lord Mayor Rhedin, Ambassador Nur Ashikin Binti Mohd Taib of Malaysia, Ambassador Kanchana Patarachoke of Thailand, and Ambassador Kamapradipta Isnomo of Indonesia.
ACS Members meets with Mr. Stefan Tolgfors, Governor of Västra Götaland County, at the historic Torstenson Palace, the official residence of the Governor of the Region.
Business Region Göteborg CEO Patrik Andersson briefing with ACS members on its projects and initiatives that contribute to the growth of Gothenburg region.
Top Left Photo: ACS Members toured the HSB Living Lab, a home to students and researchers, and an arena for innovation and technology where data are collected for research and production; Bottom Left Photo: ACS Members being briefed by Mr. Alexander Petrofski, CEO of Volvo Cars Tech Fund; Right Photo: A miniature of Lindholmen Science Park, a science park that is dedicated to research and development in mobile communication, electrified vehicles and transport systems, and modern media industry that are located in Lindholmen, Gothenburg.
TULIPA MOVIE SCREENING
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN STOCKHOLM IMMERSES ITSELF IN VIKING HISTORY
23 September 2022 – In observance of the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo 2022), which is celebrated every September pursuant to Proclamation No. 316, the staff and family members of the Philippine Embassy in Stockholm, led by Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta, visited The Viking Museum to gain greater awareness of the maritime history of Sweden and the similarities shared with the Philippines.
Team Members of the Philippine Embassy at The Viking Museum are given a glimpse of the Viking way of life by modern day Viking Asker Ingvaldsson. Photo at right shows Ambassador Isleta, Vice Consul Pat Solosa, and Mrs Moira Gallaga (backs to the camera) listening intently to the talk. Left photo shows Ms. Francesca Caredda, and Ms. Angelika Gawell, of the Museum management welcoming the Embassy personnel.
The Viking Museum is a cultural history exhibition that opened in 2017 at the Djurgården island in Stockholm. It is a depiction of the life conditions in the Viking Age. The Museum houses a selection of artifacts and other objects which celebrate the Viking way of life.
Embassy personnel were given a brief introduction and history lesson on the beginnings and evolution of the Vikings, legends and myths on their way of life, and truths of their customs and traditions based on historical and archaeological evidence. Mr. Asker Ingvaldsson, a doctoral student in Archeology in Stockholm provided the briefing.
Embassy personnel and family members were also treated to a 10-minute boat ride that followed “Ragnfrid’s Saga” that tells the fictional story of a Viking woman in the year 963 who, with the help of a fortune teller, convinces her husband Harald to leave on a long boat journey / Viking Raid to find enough silver to support his family. By following Ragnfrid’s journey one becomes witness to the plundering in the west and the slave trade in the east at that time.
The guided tour and information in connection with the Museum’s construction were provided by Ms. Angelika Gawell, Events and Booking Manager.
At the end of the visit, Embassy personnel were able to appreciate the commonalities between seafaring Vikings and pre-Hispanic Filipinos, who both relied heavily on the sea to connect with other cities and towns as well as other peoples to barter and trade goods. END
