PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN MOROCCO HOSTS THE SCREENING OF IN PAGLAYAG IN CELEBRATION OF THE NATIONAL HERITAGE MONTH

30 May 2022 – The Philippine Embassy in Morocco celebrated the National Heritage Month through the film screening of In Paglayag on 27 May 2022 at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) Headquarters in Rabat.

L-R: Asia TV Studios Producer Regine Stephanie B. Guevara, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Bea J. Antonio, film director Rhadem Musawa, ICESCO Culture and Communications Expert Nassim Mohand Amer, Ambassador Leslie J. Baja, and Head of the Moroccan local youth councils Nidal Cherkaoui Benal

In Paglayag is a documentary film about the history of Sulu, the kingdom that birthed the Filipino Moro nation, and whose power gained influence in the 1400s. The documentary ingeniously narrated the rich history of the Sulu Sultanate through the lens of Filipino Moros interviewed in the film, and their arduous journey from the 13th century to the present time.

The documentary received the 2020 International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM) Jury Award for Best Documentary and was screened in various film festivals in the Philippines, Germany, Italy, Iran, Japan, Spain and the US. The film is directed by award-winning Indigenous Moro documentary filmmaker Rhadem Musawah who was conferred the 2021 Philippine Film Ambassador Award by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). Mr. Musawah, together with Asia TV Producer Ms. Regine Stephanie Borja Guevara, graced the occasion and shared their valuable insights on the film and the history of the Filipino Moro nation.

Representatives from the Ministry of Foriegn Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriate, various Moroccan youth organizations and universities, Southease Asian students, and members of the Filipino community attended the event.

The screening was followed by an interactive exchange of questions and ideas between Mr. Musawah and guests about the creative process that led to the production of the film, how it was received by audience from different backgrounds, as well as the current situation of the Muslim minority in the Philippines. Mr. Nidal Cherkaoui Benali, Head of the Moroccan local youth councils, delivered a short message conveying his appreciation for being invited to one of the first events hosted by the Philippine Embassy since its reopening. He also expressed hope for the Philippines-Morocco bilateral relations to continually thrive in the coming years. In his closing remarks, Mr. Musawah noted the importance of promoting culture with the awareness that it is continually evolving, and that the most important part of preserving one’s culture is by moving forward while keeping an eye to the past.

The film screening served as an opportunity for the Filipino community to pay homage to their cultural roots and for friends in Morocco to find appreciation in our shared Muslim heritage.

The Embassy, in partnership with ICESCO and Asia TV, organized the film screening in celebration of the Philippine National Heritage Month which is commemorated every year as a way to create consciousness, respect, and love for the rich legacy of the Philippine culture. END