The University of the Philippines Press (UP Press) donated more than 30 publications to the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong for use at its Sentro Rizal library.
Consul General Antonio A. Morales received the donated books on behalf of the Consulate and thanked UP Press for its contribution to enrich the Consulate’s Sentro Rizal’s collection. The themes of the publications include Philippine cinema, culture, performing arts, history, science fiction and folklore.
UP Press, represented by Professor Gerardo T. Los Baños, Deputy Director (Editorial), and Ms. Anna Jhorie P. Arciga, College Business Manager, joined the annual Hong Kong Book Fair organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) on 18-24 July 2018 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) as part of the Philippines booth.
The Sentro Rizal, named in honor of Dr José Rizal, national hero of the Philippines, is a government-sponsored organization headquartered in the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) office in Intramuros, Manila whose main objective is the global promotion of Filipino art, culture and language.
Republic Act 10066 – also known as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 – mandates Philippine diplomatic missions overseas to establish their respective Sentro Rizal branches. The Consulate’s Sentro Rizal was inaugurated as the sixth such center worldwide on 30 December 2013 on the occasion of the 117th anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr Rizal.
There are currently more than 226,000 Filipinos in Hong Kong and given that a large number of them are visiting the Consulate for various services, the Consulate’s Sentro Rizal hopes to serve as a venue to further promote Philippine arts, culture and language, especially to Filipino children.
