BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The European Union Ambassador to the Philippines was in Bacolod City recently to meet with local officials of the city and Negros Occidental and to witness the province’s entry to the third edition of Teatro Europa.
The play “Waiting for Godot” written by French-Irish playwright Samuel Becket in 1953 was performed by the Masskara Theater Ensemble at the University of St. La Salle Saturday.
Ambassador Luc Veron said Teatro Europa was born in 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The two previous editions of Teatro Europa took place virtually.
“That is why this performance at USLS, physically, is a milestone in itself. It means we are starting to get over the COVID pandemic, even if we still need to be vigilant,” he said.
Speaking of milestones, Veron said “I am proud to say that in this 3rd edition of Teatro Europa, our partnership with Universities has grown further to 18 universities, from originally seven in the first year of this theatre festival. USLS started with Teatro Europa last year, and it is with pride that you are with us again.”
Through their partner institutions like St La Salle University, and audiences all over the Philippines, they have reached in the past over 500,000 views, and he is confident that this year’s festival, in its hybrid form, will be even more successful, the envoy said.
Theatre is a fundamental part of Europe’s culture and heritage. It is also an effective platform to express our identities as European and as Filipino, Veron added.
Meanwhile, Veron said he met with the officials of the province and the city and got to know about their priorities, and also informed them of their partnership with the Philippines.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, on the other hand, said culture has a wider and more connective trait on human values.
“It is our exposure to the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation or people that gives us the ability to understand each other more, appreciate our commonality, and understand our differences,” he said.
It is for this reason that Negros Occidental is privileged to have the performance of Waiting for Godo by the Masskara Theatre Ensemble of the University of St. La Salle, as their entry to the Teatro Europa theater festival, here in the province, Lacson said.
They are honored and grateful to have the ambassador and head of the European Union Delegation to the Philippines here in Negros Occidental not just for the performance of Waiting for Godot, but to also advance the importance of arts and culture in economic development through the establishment of partnerships and networks; and the possible collaborations on green issues such as solid waste management technologies, full circle recycling, climate change crisis mitigation, and the possibility of Rum importation, he added.*
