Boosting The Philippine Creative Industries at Finopinas in Tokyo
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano highlighted the value of the Philippine creative industries at the opening ceremony of “Finopinas: The Finest of Philippine Art and Design,” on 2 September 2024 at the Tokyo Midtown Design Hub. (Photo by Nicki Garcia – Philippine Embassy)
4 September 2024 – A major showcase of the Philippine creative industries, “Finopinas: The Finest of Philippine Art and Design,” was inaugurated on 2 September 2024 at the International Design Liaison Center, Tokyo Midtown Design Hub.
Finopinas aims to establish Philippine brand awareness in the international market through a holistic appreciation of the country’s design assets and indigenous raw materials. From 3 to 13 September 2024, visitors to the Finopinas special exhibition will have the opportunity to explore the works and designs by both emerging and multi-awarded Filipino artists in fashion, visual arts, home decor and furniture.
The special exhibition is complemented by a series of seminars and dialogues featuring speakers on the creative industry and sustainable development, which are open to the public:
- Seminar on the Evolution of Philippine and Japanese Contemporary Art and Prospects for Collaboration
Thursday, 05 September 2024
09:30 AM – 11:30 AM - Seminar on Philippine-Japanese Collaboration on Fashion Design and Sustainability
Monday, 09 September 2024
09:30 AM – 12:00 PM - Seminar on Philippine-Japanese Collaboration on Sustainable Textiles
Tuesday, 10 September 2024
09:30 AM – 11:30 AM - Seminar on Philippine-Japanese Collaboration on Sustainable Interior Products for Community Development
Wednesday, 11 September 2024
09:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Members of the diplomatic corps, business executives, and cultural industry representatives attended the opening ceremony. The program commenced with the PH MODE x TYO Fashion Show presented by the Manila Fashion Festival (MFF), the official Philippine entry to the prestigious international Rakuten Fashion Week. The fashion show highlighted contemporary designs by Filipino and Japanese designers, featuring indigenous textiles from weaving communities across the Philippines.
“At the heart of this exhibit is the celebration of the convergence of design, innovation, and sustainability, as we underscore the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines and address the challenges faced by today’s society through the power of artistic expression. We believe that this event will not only inspire creativity but also further strengthen the cultural and economic ties between the Philippines and Japan,” Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene Garcia-Albano stated in her remarks.
In his message, ASEAN-Japan Centre Secretary General Kunihiko Hirayabashi underscored the profound connection between Philippine and Japanese cultures. He said, “The spirit of ‘bayanihan’ – the Filipino concept of communal unity– finds a kindred soul in the Japanese principle of ‘wa’ which embodies harmony and the collectivity of strength. These values are more than words, they are the very fabric of our societies, woven through generations.”
Finopinas is jointly organized by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center Tokyo (PTIC-Tokyo), Manila Fashion Festival, Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), and Provenance Art Gallery, with the support of the Philippine Embassy in Japan and the ASEAN-Japan Centre. It is in line with the Philippine Creative Industries Act (Republic Act No. 11904), which was enacted in July 2022 to promote and strengthen the country’s creative sector and boost economic growth.
To register for the seminars and networking sessions, please click here. For any inquiries or further assistance, please contact Ms. Nika Yoshino at NikaYoshino@dti.gov.ph or +81.3.6453.9502. END
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (front, center), Commercial Counsellor Dita Angara-Mathay (front, 4th from left), ASEAN-Japan Centre Secretary General Kunihiko Hirayabashi (front, 3rd from left), Provenance Gallery founder Raul Francisco (front 2nd from left), and Japan Institute of Design Promotion President Hiroyuki Fukano with some of the featured artists, designers, and models of Finopinas. (Photo by Benz Marbella – Philippine Embassy)
Finopinas ribbon-cutting ceremony on 2 September 2024, led by (L-R) ASEAN-Japan Centre Secretary General Kunihiko Hirayabashi, Commercial Counsellor Dita Angara-Mathay, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, Provenance Gallery founder Raul Francisco and Japan Institute of Design Promotion President Hiroyuki Fukano. (Photo by Benz Marbella – Philippine Embassy)
