MANILA, Philippines - Marking another fruitful year of friendship and understanding, the Philippine-Italian Association (PIA) toasted to its 50th anniversary since its founding in 1962.
“The Philippine Italian Association stands tall in all its glory that is worth what we are celebrating tonight. 50 years is an achievement in itself, a shining testimony to the selfless dedication and resolve of exceptional individuals to strengthen a partnership between two countries and their peoples who share a common love for life,” shares PIA president Zenaida Tantoco.
Since its founding, the Philippine-Italian Association has evolved into an association with a broader scope and rationale. It manifests its aims through mutual networking and programs of socio-cultural, educational, scientific and technological exchanges between the two countries.
In recent years, it has successfully organized a wide spectrum of activities and significant projects such as granting of scholarships to Filipino students of music, fine arts, agriculture, book restoration, science, architecture and economics in the past. Most recently, as part of this year-long commemoration, PIA worked closely with Rustan’s and the Italian Embassy with the staging of renowned opera The Barber of Seville at the CCP led by a renowned group of Filipino and Italian talents.