Interculturality and Outreach: students participated in workshop about Philippine instruments

Within the framework of inter-institutional cooperation relations, the Universidad de Santiago de Chile recently held the workshop “Introduction to Philippine Musical Instruments”, which took place at the Vice-Rectory of Public Engagement and Outreach (VIME) and was organized jointly by the Department of International Relations (DRII) and the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines. 

 

The activity was attended by a delegation from the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Chile headed by the Consul General, Jim Tito San Agustin, while representing USACH was present the DRII team, led by the director Fernando Olmos Galleguillos.

 

In charge of the workshop was the musical group Rondalla of the University of the Philippines, consisting of 9 students and 2 professors, who first presented and explained each musical instrument. The group of participants of the workshop was formed by students of the USACH Without Borders Program, of the Department of Cultures and Arts and by elementary school students of the Republic of the Philippines School of Lo Espejo.

 

Later, the group made the instruments available to the participants so that they could review and play them, which allowed them to practice chords and melodies under the instruction of the members of Rondalla. Afterwards, the musicians from the University of the Philippines answered questions from the audience.

 

Once the workshop was over, the Rondalla group performed a couple of iconic pieces of Philippine folk music, receiving the warm applause of those who attended and institutional gifts from the Department of International Relations.

 

After the closing, the director of the DRII, Fernando Olmos Galleguillos, celebrated the realization of this joint activity and emphasized that “international and cultural cooperation with diplomatic delegations is a way to deepen internationalization at home and also a door to access other types of links, such as academic and research actions, among others”.

 

The relations between the Universidad de Santiago de Chile and the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in our country have become closer after the last meetings in which Ambassador Celeste Vinzón Balatbát has also participated and which have allowed exploring collaboration alternatives.

 

The links between our university and the diplomatic representation of the Philippines are important to promote international cooperation at the educational level, the exchange of knowledge and mutual understanding, and lay the foundations for a lasting and beneficial relationship between institutions of both nations.