FRENCH Ambassador Michèle Boccoz and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on June 26 officially launched the year-long program celebrating the 75th year of history, friendship, and partnership between France and the Philippines at the Pinto Art Museum.

Diplomatic relations between France and the Philippines were formalized with the signing of the Treaty of Amity by Philippine Vice-President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Elpidio Quirino and French Minister for Foreign Affairs Georges Bidault in Paris on June 26, 1947. For more than seven decades, France and the Philippines have deepened and broadened their ties in several areas such as economic cooperation, climate action, and cultural action. This 75th anniversary of PhilippineFrench ties is therefore an occasion to celebrate the many facets of their longstanding relationship through a rich and diverse program of activities organized throughout 2022.

“The Philippines and France have had meaningful exchanges throughout the years, most notably in culture, trade, development, education, and defense.

Indeed, there is still much to discover and learn from each other, which is why this 75th anniversary celebration is an occasion to look back on our shared history and envision a closer partnership between our two countries over the next 75 years,” French Ambassador Michèle Boccoz said during the opening ceremonies.

Secretary Locsin said that “The Philippines and France aim to strengthen our bilateral relations as we jointly face global and regional challenges that call for deeper cooperation and partnership.”

Philippine Ambassador to France Junever Mahilum-West, who joined the program via livestream from Paris, announced the simultaneous program led by the Philippine Embassy and presented the unveiling of the Jose Rizal Bust in the 9th arrondissement in Paris held last June 23 to honor the life and legacy of the Philippine national hero and his connection to France in time for the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of French-Philippine ties.

“This year promises to be a banner for the bilateral relations between France and the Philippines as we honor our historic past and look forward to the future together,” Ambassador Mahilum-West said in her live video message.

A toast to the 75th anniversary was led by Ambassador Boccoz and Secretary Locsin, joined by distinguished guests including French Senator Samantha Cazebonne, Special Envoy of the French Ministry of Finance François Corbin, Dr. Joven Cuanang of the Pinto Art Museum, Pinto Art Museum Guest Curator Sandra Palomar, and Philippe Augier, owner of the Gauguin art pieces.

Also present during the opening ceremonies were representatives from organizers and partners of the year-long program such as the Embassy of France to the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Embassy in France, the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines, and Alliance Française de Manille. The French Men’s National Volleyball Team, gold medalists at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, was also in attendance. Coinciding with the 75th anniversary, the French team is currently competing at the Volleyball Nations League being held in Quezon City.

Ambassador Boccoz and Secretary Locsin also led the inauguration of the art exhibit “Diamond in the Rough” which showcases a collection of over 80 art pieces by Filipino artists who have lived in France and by French artists living in the Philippines. A project of the French Embassy and the El Refugio Arts and Sciences Foundation Inc., initiated by Dr. Joven Cuanang of the Pintô Art Museum and curated by Sandra Palomar, the exhibition features numerous genres from painting to sculpture, film, and fashion.

The highlights of the exhibit are sculptures by Frenchman Paul Gauguin loaned from the Museum Pasifika in Indonesia shown alongside modernist Filipino painters such as Nena Saguil and Macario Vitalis who were expatriates in France. Likewise, there is a strong presence of French artists whose works are quite well known in Manila and these are Henri Eteve and photographers Pierre de Vallombreuse and Charles Freger. There is equally a good representation of women artists.

There are more gems in “Diamond in the Rough” to discover all throughout July. Film and video screenings will be scheduled on weekends until the end of the show on August 7. Pintô Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“We thank our sponsors and partners for helping us put together a grand celebration for our 75th anniversary,” Ambassador Boccoz added. “We invite everyone to join our activities and partake in cultural exchanges so you can further appreciate and support the enduring relations between France and the Philippines.”

Highly anticipated events, including the French Film Festival and the Goût de France culinary festival, as well as other events in the field of the visual arts, music, poetry, and theater, will also take place as part of this 75th anniversary.