Cultural narratives interwined
The Philippine Pavilion et Expo 2025 Osaka is a symbolic celebration of Filipino design, dance and collaboration and a landmark cultural statement on the global stage.
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The Philippine Pavilion et Expo 2025 Osaka is a symbolic celebration of Filipino design, dance and collaboration and a landmark cultural statement on the global stage.
dancers portray the elegance, resilience and unity woven into the Filipino identity.
Photograph courtesy of olivia bugayong
MERGING the past and future through movement and form.
A dinner for Consul General Mauricio at the Pavilion. (From left) Mark Anthony Balucay, Jemima Reyes, Ian Ocampo, Kathleen Liechtenstein, Maribel Calma, Consul General Voltaire D. Mauricio, Ping Valencia, Olivia Bugayong, Danielle Kleiner, Clarise Miranda and Carl Lacaba.
Chito Sobrepeña, Kathleen Liechtenstein, Anna Sobrepeña and Ping Valencia.
A bold vision of Filipino identity takes center stage — where heritage meets innovation, and tradition finds new rhythm. Ballet Philippines (BP), in its 56th season, unveils a groundbreaking collaboration with visionary artist Carlo Calma at the Philippine Pavilion, weaving dance, architecture and indigenous craftsmanship into a living expression of national pride.
Designed by Calma, the Philippine Pavilion is the most extensive collaboration of Filipino community weavers ever assembled for a single project. With over a thousand handwoven rattan elements and more than 200 native textiles, the structure stands as both a tribute to ancestral craft and a symbol of cultural evolution. Inspired by the act of weaving, the pavilion’s organic, kinetic form embodies the Expo’s theme, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”
Here, Ballet Philippines presents two original works — Weaving Looms and Threads — performed daily at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. They are choreographed to reflect soul and movement of the pavilion wherein the pieces evoke the spirit of interconnectedness and transformation, as dancers portray the elegance, resilience and unity woven into the Filipino identity.
“This is more than a performance — it’s a statement,” said BP president Kathleen Liechtenstein. “We’re not just showcasing heritage; we’re evolving it. This is the Filipino story — resilient, expressive and always forward-looking.”
Calma’s design elevates weaving into a powerful metaphor for unity and continuity. The pavilion’s flowing lines and responsive materials shift with the breeze, suggesting movement, life and the unfolding of a shared cultural narrative.
Ballet Philippines brings this to life through dance — where every gesture becomes a thread in the fabric of national identity. Performances continue daily until 15 June, offering visitors an immersive encounter with Filipino creativity. The synergy of rattan, textile and motion transforms the pavilion into a dynamic celebration of being Filipino — deeply rooted yet boldly contemporary.
The Philippine Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka is a symbolic celebration of Filipino design, dance and collaboration and a landmark cultural statement on the global stage. At its heart are daily performances by Ballet Philippines, staged within a visionary space by Carlo Calma Consultancy Inc., merging the past and future through movement and form. The pavilion’s theme, “Nature, Culture and Community: Woven Together for a Better Future,” underscores its broader purpose to inspire inclusivity, global collaboration and sustainability. It’s a space where art and tradition are activated, lived, and shared with the world.
Ballet Philippines was commissioned to perform by Philippine Tourism Board for the Osaka expo (which runs for six months) with Live Arts Performance twice daily until 15 June and again in October.
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