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Embassy News

Philippine Tourism Makes a Quick Comeback at International Travel Trade Fair IFTM TopResa

5 October 2021, Paris – Philippine tourism made a quick comeback in France as the international travel trade fair International French Travel Market (IFTM) Top Resa resumed having its in-person event in Paris from 5-8 October 2021. It had to cancel its regular event last year, due to the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

The Philippine Embassy in Paris joined the Philippine tourism promotions team on the opening day of Top Resa at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. It is said to be the first live travel fair done in France, since the pandemic began.

The Philippine Top Resa team was led by the tourism director of the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) Frankfurt Office, Ms. Margarita Patricia Valdes, and included representatives of the following exhibitor-companies: Asiaventure Tours and Travel, Inc., Evasion Tropicale Travel and Tours, Blue Horizons Travel and Tours, Inc., Shangri-la Boracay and Masaya Wonderland Wow, Inc.

^{5 October 2021, Paris: Philippine Embassy in Paris’ Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Aileen Mendiola-Rau (5th from left) and Minister/Consul Christina Rola McKernan (5th from right) with the Director of the Frankfurt office of the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT), Ms. Margarita Patricia Valdes (4th from left), in support of “Team Philippines” composed of exhibitors and marketing representatives at the international travel trade show TopResa held in Paris.}

The Philippine Embassy in Paris’ Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Ms. Aileen Mendiola-Rau, said of Philippine participation in the event, “It is indeed very encouraging to be able again to attend Top Resa, which we have always done before the pandemic struck.

As every country comes closer to realizing its own goals for managing this global health crisis, the more and more we will see more live (in-person) events like Top Resa and more international travel. Though the new normal brings with it a very different way of doing things, the Philippines is adapting and is committed to make sure that the travel experience for our visitors will still be at the highest standard of quality and safety”.

^{5 October 2021, Paris – The Philippine exhibitors “in action” at TopResa held from 5-8 October 2021 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.}

Before the event’s opening ceremony, Director Valdes said, “The Philippines is getting ready for its meetings, and can't wait to see its partners, discuss the latest developments, and continue laying down the groundwork for when Philippine borders reopen”. By day four, she confirmed that travel trade partners had received well the optimistic message, which Philippine participation in Top Resa carried with it: that the Philippines continues with its preparations for the time when it can welcome foreign tourists into the country.

^{5 October 2021 – Left photo: meetings continue at the Philippine exhibitors’ area; Right photo: DOT Tourism Director Margarita Valdes (center) meets Mme. Évelyne Renaud-Garabedian, French Senator representing French people living outside France.}

According to its website, IFTM Top Resa is a trade show for travel and tourism, targeting all segments: Business, Leisure, Group, MICE & Events.To know more about the Philippines DOT’s More Fun Awaits campaign, please visit the following social media posts on Facebook and Instagram through the following links: https://fb.watch/8hcXp3WANg/ https://fb.watch/8hcYxuBZvZ/, https://www.instagram.com/p/CUHoMhDKngn/, https://www.instagram.com/p/CUUUiBuqcEh/ END.

Filipino Global Icon of Haute Couture Michael Cinco and Filipina Fashion Designers, Meg manski and Chona Bacaoco, Grace Paris City Fashion Week Event

2 October 2021, Paris – The Philippine Embassy in Paris, along with members from the Filipino communities of France, other European capitals and the US, took great pride in attending the Paris City Fashion week on Saturday, the 2^nd of October. A total of fourteen fashion designers from all over the world – including three Filipinos – showcased their latest collections at the impressive Victorian gothic revival architectural gem, the American Cathedral in Paris.

^{2 October 2021, Paris, France – Filipino fashion designers showcased in the Paris City Fashion Week at the Amercian Cathedral in Paris: From left: Milan-based Chona Bacaoco of MM Milano, the world-renowned Michael Cinco and US-based Meg Manski (in black)}.

The earlier part of the show introduced emerging fashion designers, including Illinois-based Filipino-American Meg Manski, who had a mélange of cutting-edge and classic pieces in her collection, including three Filipiniana-inspired ones.

Majority of the estimated 100 guests had stayed on until the early evening for the most-awaited last part of the program, where the collections of three prominent international fashion designers were unveiled, including of course, those of no less than Dubai-based Filipino fashion designer Michael Cinco and Chona Bacaoco of MM Milano from Milan, Italy.

Each of the almost forty pieces of Michael Cinco’s exquisite works of art left the audience awestruck, as the models sashayed elegantly across the runway, effectively permitting the intricate beauty of the individual masterpieces to shine through.

Chona Bacaoco’s collection clearly carried a theme of strikingly bold and elegant shades, textures and styles of gold, pink, black and silver, which exuded a spirit of strong femininity through her all-female model line-up.

^{2 October 2021, Paris – Left photo: Philippine Embassy in Paris’ Consuls Joyce Camacho Quivooij (L) and Christina Rola McKernan (R) with Milan-based Filipina fashion designer Chona Bacaoco. Right photo: One of the Filipiniana-inspired creations by Filipina-American designer Meg Manski.}

Behind the scenes, a number of Filipino creatives made a substantial contribution to the show, as well. Paris-based Filipinos Jyd Perez and Jan Levent were called to cover the event as part of the official events photography team. Apart from this, the whole entourage of the thirty or so models were able to sport the whole range of looks courtesy of the four-strong, multi-talented and entirely Filipino hair and make-up team of the show, namely Suzette Riego from Paris, Mau Piodena from Dubai, Princess Miranda and Monique Cruz, both from Milan. One of the models, Karla Meinhardt, who is half Filipina by blood - through her mother Jess (who lives with her in Nice) - expressed her delight to have had the chance to don the works of the three Filipino designers.

Consul Christina Rola McKernan of the Philippine Embassy in Paris, who was present at the event, said, “we share the elation and pride of all our kakabayan that are here with us today to witness the Philippine creative genius in action. Michael Cinco is truly part of the crème de la crème of high fashion and it is just perfect to have him back here at the fashion capital of the world.

We are triply privileged to have three Filipino designers being showcased at this outstanding event and I have a feeling this is only the start of it. Amidst the pandemic, the world seems to be catching up, through implementing strict guidelines to make sure that face-to-face events would be both safe and successful. Our congratulations and deepest thanks to Michael Cinco, Chona Bacaoco and Meg Manski for sharing with the world their beautiful creations and for making us, Filipinos proud. We are also proud of the other Filipino creatives behind the scenes of the Paris City Fashion Week, mabuhay kayo!”.

^{2 October 2021, Paris, France – At the end-of-show catwalk of models for the collection of Michael Cinco (left), of Chona Bacaoco of MM Milano (top right) and of Meg Manski (bottom right) at the Paris City Fashion Week at the American Cathedral in Paris.}

^{2 October 2021, Paris, France – Left photo: Suzette Riego (L), Paris-based professional Make-up Artist with Nice-based Karla Meinhardt (R), the only Filipina among the multinational group of runway models participating in the Paris City Fashion Week event.}

For more information, the Filipino designers and event organizers have their respective social media accounts that could be accessed here through: https://www.facebook.com/michael5inco, https://www.facebook.com/mmmilano.thebrand, https://www.facebook.com/megmanski/, https://www.facebook.com/pariscityfashionweekofficial .END.

Announcement No. 10-2021 - Observance of Philippine and French Holidays in November 2021

Filipino Art Gallery “Kwadro Pintura” Opens in Paris

29 September 2021, Paris - The first Filipino Art Gallery in Paris “Kwadro Pintura” opened its doors on 25 September 2021. Run by four Filipino artists, Mr. Romeo “Dhon” Dela Paz, Jr., Mr. Francis Eric Dimarucut, Mr. Cris Adajar and Ms. Marie Expert, the art gallery is located at the art and decor complex Village Suisse Cour Anglais sous sol Gallerie 15 on 10 Avenue Champaubert at Paris’ 15^th arrondissement.

Kwadro Pintura comes from “the Filipino words for canvass, kwadro and pintura or paint and it is likewise the name of our group,” said Mr. Dela Paz, Jr.

The art gallery showcases the distinct styles of the four artists: traditional Philippine narratives and nostalgia from Mr. Dela Paz, imaginative realism to modern symbolism from Mr. Dimarucut, 3D designs and a bias for the female face and form from Mr. Adajar, and renaissance-style paintings from the lone lady artist, Ms. Expert.

^{From left to right: Mr. Francis Eric Dimarucut, Second Secretary and Consul Joyce Camacho Quivooij, Ms. Marie Expert, Mr. Dhon Dela Paz Jr. and Mr. Cris Adajar}

The Philippine Embassy in Paris expressed its support for the group particularly their objective of inspiring, discovering, and promoting other Filipino artists or aspiring artists in France.

For more information, Kwadro Pintura may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. END.