The Philippines Pavilion at Expo 2020: 5 Things You Must Know

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Updated 13 October 2021

The Expo 2020 Dubai has the world’s attention right now, as it is one of the most significant global events open to visitors since the coronavirus pandemic. The event kicked off this October with over 192 participating nations, each having its own dedicated pavilion representing what its country stands for.

The Philippines Pavilion, also called the Bangkóta, joined the rest of the 192 participating countries in the World Expo’s that opened 1 October.

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The Philippines Pavilion

The Philippines coral-reef inspired pavilion Bangkóta is stationed at the Expo’s Sustainability District. Designed by the renowned Filipino architectural firm Budji Layug+Royal Pineda, The pavilion’s structure brings to light the coral reef and makes it the central analogy for the country and its people.

The concept highlights Filipino connectivity

The Philippines pavilion has a distinctive façade characterizing a complex wire mesh pattern around the building to present the idea of connectivity. The structure is three-storey high and is divided into eight areas.

The pavilion also features a ton of sculptures depicting the fusion between primitive and modern Filipino culture. The ‘soaring high’ sculptures symbolize the present-day aspiring Filipinos who are willing to conquer the world with their immense talents and skills.

The Philippines pavilion focuses on the creative industry by showcasing industries like architecture, landscape, arts, multimedia, music, culinarians, photography and performing arts. With exhibitions focused on the country’s history, the idea of the overall pavilion is for an individual to begin on a journey of discovery into the Filipino culture.

Experience the Filipino culture and identity

The pavilion, organically shaped like the Bangkóta—the ancient term for “coral reef” in the language Tagalog—highlights the coral reef-like qualities of Filipinos, such as an inclination for hyper-connectivity and the ability to build vibrant communities anywhere in the world.

“Visitors will be looking at spectacular scenes of flying sculptures, bird-like motifs and murals,” explains the pavilion curator Marian Pastor-Roces. “These will evoke the images of Filipino contract workers moving all around the world. They play an important role, and we want to celebrate our overseas workers.”

An exclusive sector is dedicated to experiencing the country’s natural heritage with appealing depictions of the past, present and future, including an area displaying inverted trees that symbolizes Austronesians who have progressed by way of 65,000 years of genetic mixing and sustained for 4,000 years. The towering upward spiral features the names of hundreds of overseas workers in the UAE.

Showcasing the Philippines past, present, and future

The Expo 2020 Dubai serves as a platform for the Philippines to present universal expressions in architecture, artworks and design that connects the deep past with the future in the Filipino community. It brings together a variety of the finest artists along with the story of a 4,000-year journey of their Austronesian ancestors. They were also seafarers who spread throughout the islands of Southeast Asia and then embarked across the Pacific.

The Philippines pavilion evokes their travel-friendly and hardworking community of people in the Sustainability district of the Expo, emphasizing cultural sustainability through the millennia. Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, Hjayceelyn Quintana, who led the opening of the Bangkóta pavilion, stated, “The Bangkóta finds its place in the World Expo, teaching us new ideas, creating new images that will help us face the future with confidence”.

You can explore the Philippines pavilion virtually on its official website.

A packed calendar of events and business opportunities

An entire calendar of business-to-business events that highlight most of the Philippines’ most vital industries is on the agenda for the next six months. Some of the upcoming events will include special forums and a series of events, including the most awaited Philippine Food Festival, Philippine National Day, participation at the Global Business Forum ASEAN (GBF ASEAN) and Gulfood 2022.

The Philippines pavilion at Expo 2020 will offer enormous opportunities for business and trade. It will act as an ideal platform to attract key investors from various sectors, including food, tourism and hospitality, marketing, logistics, investments and information technology, to enhance the Philippines’ relations with the United Arab Emirates; and the rest of the world.