We need to continue doing a better job selling our country to the world, despite our internal problems, especially political divisions
THE Philippine pavilion at the Osaka Expo 2025 is a stunner. Externally, for sure. Made out of rattan (I think) shaped into huge “tiles” patched together in an eye-catching way, the pavilion sits at a central point of the Expo, which makes it difficult to miss.
I didn’t see a flagpole flying our flag in front of the pavilion (Malaysia’s nearby had three poles) but the word Philippines in big letters in front made it clear it was ours. An LED screen also showed images of IP weavers doing their thing. And the doors to the pavilion that slid to open and close were adorned with native embroidery like tinalak and the like.
You need to line up to get into the pavilion and a handful (maybe 30?) at a time are let into the hall. After entering, you have to wait in the foyer while a short Introduction on what to expect is given. After a minute or two, you’re allowed to proceed into the main hall where you see informative panels dedicated to every region of the country, ending with a giant LED screen that projects yourself as a moving (or dancing) bunch of fruits. A photo booth allows you to have a photo taken with a virtual picture frame of fruits, and then exit.
Many Expo goers make it a point to have their Expo passports stamped at the exit area to show how many pavilions they’ve visited.
As a Filipino, I marveled at the rattan design of the shell of the pavilion. But I have to admit that I was a bit underwhelmed by what was displayed – I mean the panels dedicated to each region, inclusive of a small video screen on each label showing off local highlights.
I know that my country has far, far more to show. And we should use opportunities like the Expo to do so.
Why wasn’t there a focus, let’s say, on the Filipino love for music and our amazing talents who have been globally recognized? Couldn’t we have had dioramas, maybe, to showcase our history? Or, if allowed, an area where local fare could be tried?
I would have put a big table with the Philippine archipelago in bas relief and key points identified with lights – and even sound for Mayon and Taal. Then the visitor would have a better grasp of the layout of our land. Maybe with interactive buttons to boot.
My point is, we have so much to show about the Philippines in a way that addresses not just the visitor’s sense of sight, but his sense of sound and smell and taste as well.
We need to continue doing a better job selling our country to the world, despite our internal problems, especially political divisions. The Osaka Expo 2025 is a good opportunity to do so. Let’s make sure we keep doing better at every Expo moving forward.
