The Philippine government has announced that the construction of its Expo 2020 Dubai pavilion is set to be completed in March.
After construction reached 87 percent completion, Ramon Lopez, Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (PDTI) and Commissioner general secretary said that Bangkota will highlight the country’s passion for sustainability.
“While recent restrictions brought about by the pandemic posed a challenge, they also unleashed within the team their resourcefulness and creativity — allowing them to pull such magnificent work without any delays,” he said.
Omar Shehadeh, chief international participants officer at Expo 2020 Dubai, added: “I am confident that Filipinos in the UAE will be further proud of their identity once they get to witness what the Philippine team has prepared for them in the upcoming Expo 2020.”
The design of the Bangkota Pavilion, or “coral reef” in ancient Tagalog, honours the natural resources that the Philippines has to offer, specifically the architectural character of the coral reefs native to the archipelago.
Designed by Budji+Royal Architecture+Design and curated by Marian Pastor-Roces, the 1,386 sq m pavilion reimagines the Filipinos as a coral reef.
According to PDTI Assistant Secretary Rosvi Gaetos, who also serves as the alternate commissioner general of Bangkota, the pavilion promises to showcase the Filipino diaspora spread throughout the world through travel, migration and technology.
“Bangkota will deploy leading-edge art, architecture, and design to present a nation bound by zealous interconnectivity, a culture of compassion, and a tropical, fevered imagination. It highlights the progressive development of the nation through the state-of-the-art portals that promise immersive experiences for visitors—allowing them to embark on a journey of discovery of the nature of the Philippines,” she said.
Located in the Expo 2020’s Sustainability District, Filipino artistry and creativity are revealed in every facet of Bangkota, with Dubai-based Filipino fashion designer Ezra Santos the official outfitter of the pavilion.
Filipino animation film producers Avid Liongoren and Manny Angeles have produced teaser videos featuring Ube Boy, the official mascot of the Bangkota, while creative agency BBDO Guerrero has produced the centrepiece film Our Gift to the World.
The pavilion’s avant-garde musical score that permeates the exhibit areas has been created by national artist Dr Ramon Pagayon Santos while young game developer James Palabay has devised the Bangkota Trivia Quest, a mobile game for visitors to enjoy.
Expo 2020 will be held from October 1 2021 to March 31, 2022 after being postponed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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