The Embassy of Italy in the Philippines, in collaboration with the Philippine Italian Association (PIA) and the Societa’ Dante Alighieri-Manila, has organized a week-long celebration of the Week of the Italian Language in the World, highlighting the significance of sustainability.
The Week of the Italian Language in the World is an international cultural event that takes place every third week of October annually, with a primary focus on commemorating and advancing the Italian language and culture on an international scale.
Since its inception in 2001, this annual event, hosted by the diplomatic-consular network and the Italian Cultural Institutes, along with partners active in promoting the Italian language worldwide, has been honored with the coveted High Patronage of the Presidency of the Republic.
This year, the 23rd celebration of the Week of the Italian Language in the World will be held from October 16 to 22, 2023, with the overarching theme of “Italian and Sustainability.” The event intends to present Italy as a leader in environmental concerns and use the Italian language as a medium for raising global awareness of sustainability.
The centennial of the birth of famed Italian author Italo Calvino, who is recognized for his groundbreaking ecological literary works, coincides with this theme as well.
According to His Excellency Ambassador Marco Clemente of the Embassy of Italy in the Philippines, this commemoration is a “revolutionary” event as it takes part in joining the call to promote sustainability across the world.
“Language serves as a potent instrument for promoting worldwide discussions on critical matters, and our objective with this event is to underscore the significance of environmental sustainability and Italy’s dedication to it,” Amb. Clemente said.
“The Philippines has been embroiled with devastating catastrophes every year, and this event is highly revolutionary for them because it is dedicated to educating our Filipino people of the importance of sustainability and why they have to take a serious step towards sustainable practices,” he added.
The program for the 2023 edition includes the following key events:
- Masterclass on Italo Calvino at De La Salle University (DLSU)
Date: Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Time: Morning (10:00 AM to 12:00 PM)
Title: “The Eclectic Nature of Italo Calvino”
Venue: Henry Sy Building (Library), 6th Floor
Speakers: Matteo Piasentini, Jeane Peracullo, and Cristina Moricca
Topics:
- Matteo Piasentini: “Italo Calvino: The Author, His Works, and His Thoughts on the Environment”
- Jeane Peracullo: “Intertwining and Entanglements of the Poetics of Vulnerable Space in Italo Calvino’s ‘The Baron in the Trees’”
- Cristina Moricca: “Italo Calvino’s Inspiring Justification for ‘Why Read the Classics’ in Relation to Our Times”
- Masterclass on Italo Calvino at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UP)
Date: Friday, October 20, 2023
Time: Morning (10:00 AM to 12:00 PM)
Title: “Italo Calvino: 3 Modes”
Venue: AVR Room of the University of the Philippines College of Arts and Letters
Speakers: Jillian Loise Melchior, Naidyl Isis Bautista, and Matteo Piasentini
Topics:
- Matteo Piasentini: “Italo Calvino and the Environment”
- Jillian Loise Melchor: “Italo Calvino and the Journey”
- Naisyl Isis Bautista: “Italo Calvino and Magic Realism”
Aside from a series of workshops, the Italian Embassy and PIA, in collaboration with Societa’ Dante Alighieri-Manila, also organized a Video Language Competition with the theme “The Words of Sustainability.” This competition encourages young participants to create awareness about environmental issues using Italian words in a video format.
The Embassy has yet to announce the date of the competition.
Rather the helpful information