Portugal and Germany hold October festivals

With the Spanish festival opening Oct. 1, Portugal and Germany are likewise holding their own festivals in the same month.

Portuguese Ambassador Joao Caetano da Silva gives the following message: "The Portuguese Festival provides a unique opportunity to the Filipino public to experience the best of Portugal without traveling to my country. Independent since 1143, Portugal is full of traditions but at the same time is modern: a member of the EU; it has successfully organized two recent high-profile events – EXPO 98 and EURO 2004.

"During three weeks in October, you will taste Portuguese food, including the famous Bacalao, and wines, and discover the best decorative tiles, ceramics, embroidery and porcelain which, in fact, are already highly appreciated in the Philippines.

"I hope you can join us also in the various celebrations of Our Lady of Fatima, listen to Portuguese music and see Portuguese films, and learn about the five-century Portuguese presence in East Asia in the spirit of a great Portuguese-Filipino celebration."

Highlights follow: Oct. 6 – Opening of the food festival at the Hotel Inter-Con. Oct. 12-14 – Portuguese film festival at the Podium featuring critically-acclaimed films, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17 – Celebration of our Lady of Fatima at the Podium. Oct. 20 – Concert by the famed Portuguese pianist Antonio Rosado at the Hotel Inter-Con, 6 p.m. Oct. 25-26 – Launching of the book The Historical Relations between Portugal, Macau and the Philippines at the UST, and a seminar to be held by Portuguese and Filipino historians on the theme: "Ferdinand Magellan: The Historical First Voyage of Globalization."

Tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at the German Club, newly arrived German Ambassador Axel Weishaupt, European Chamber of Commerce Executive VP and FairsMore CEO Henry Schumacher, and Phil-German Economic Council Chairman Oscar Lopez will discuss the "kaleidoscope" events for October’s German Festival. Enlivening the meeting are 16 teen-aged students from the German School. "Germany It’s More Than You Think!", theme of the festival, will include car shows, products, services, exhibits, concerts and lectures.

Berlin-based Filipino violinist Justin Texon will give a concert on Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. in St. Cecilia’s Hall with German-trained pianist Peter Porticos and the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra. Highlight will be the Philippine premiere of Conrado del Rosario’s Darungan, a piece for solo violin first played in Germany eight years ago, a work inspired by the people and culture of the Muranao.

Mandarin Oriental will host Oktoberfest 2004 on Oct. 1 and 2 at Fort Bonifacio’s NBC Tent. It will offer German cuisine, beer and the famed Bavarian Sound Express consisting of young men led by Robert Bimbrier. The Express will create music with wind instruments and drums – music to march and dance to by both young and old.