The Philippines Expo 2020 Dubai

Façade of the Philippines Pavilion, Bangkota, during the day. Visible from afar to welcome visitors is the sculpture of the mythic being Haliya, by Duddley Diaz.

The Philippines at Expo 2020 Dubai, led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) was an opportunity for the Philippines to present on the world stage, a surprising, complex, and stirring self-portrait of a national community through the BANGKÓTA PHILIPPINES PAVILION.

An ideal platform to promote trade, tourism, and investments, and to enhance the Philippines’ relations with the United Arab Emirates and the rest of the international community, the Expo 2020 Dubai opened from 1 October 2021, to 31 March 2022.

Through Administrative Order 17, the Philippine Organizing Committee was created to supervise the country’s participation at the Expo, with DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez as the Commissioner – General, and DTI Assistant Secretary Rosvi Gaetos the Alternate Commissioner – General.


DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Chairperson and Commissioner-General

Tourism Logo

DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM

Vice Chairperson

DFA logo

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

DBM Logo

DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT

DOLE Logo

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

DOST Logo

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DICT logo

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY


Considered to be the “World’s Safest and Most Connected Show” in the Arab world, the Expo 2020 Dubai is an Expo of many firsts for the Philippines.

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BIGGEST PAVILION

1,386 sqm Pavilion on a 3,163.25 sqm. lot

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1st DESIGN & BUILD PAVILION

Design & Build PH pavilion from the GROUND UP of such dimension and scale

3 Filipinos icon

700,000 FILIPINOS

A strong natural audience base of Filipinos in the UAE

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CREATIVE INDUSTRIES IN FOCUS

A stage for globally-recognized and up-and-coming Filipino creative minds and talents

To know more about the BANGKÓTA Philippines Pavilion and the Philippines @ Expo 2020 Dubai, visit the official website at: https://www.phexpo2020dubai.com/


BANGKÓTA: THE PAVILION OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES DUBAI WORLD EXPO 2020

Bangkóta Front Perspective - Night

The Pavilion of the Republic of the Philippines evoked the coral reef and made it the central metaphor for the country and its people. Its spatial form was set by Architect Royal L. Pineda, a principal of Budji+Royal Architecture+Design.

Hence the pavilion name was Bangkóta, “coral reef” in old Tagalog, one of 175 languages spoken in the tropical archipelago, the first Republic in Asia. The Philippine languages descend from a single mother tongue, Austronesian. These languages interact and overlap, coral-like, the same way the Filipino people interact and overlap with the peoples of the world.
The direction set by Curator Marian Pastor Roces interlinked artmaking and design with scientific work on ancient Philippines. As keystone, she staged the conversation between the architecture and the music composed by National Artist Ramon P. Santos. The interior spaces were audibly interlinked by Santos’ vanguard composition—informed by precolonial Philippine musical structure and instruments.

Inside the organic spatial volumes and within this music environment, the architectural interiors “grew” the visitors’ imagination. The visual experiences drove the delivery of updated information about the Philippines, in the sequence of organic spaces. The sculpture dominating each gallery was the main conveyance of updated science on the Philippine peoples.

Bangkóta aligned with the theme of Expo 2020 Dubai — “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” — with a riveting image of the Philippines and its people as truly global.


KNOW MORE

4,000 years ago, our Austronesian ancestors arrived on boats north of the Philippines in a great movement of people. The constant, incessant movement of Filipinos all over the world from then up to this day became the inspiration behind Bangkóta.

Experience the incredible story of one megaproject that unveiled our untold story to the world.

WATCH:
youtu.be/nT0LZlN6eWA
Philippines @ Expo 2020 Dubai Documentary

Produced by the Office of the Presidential Communications Operations Office/
Office of the Press Secretary

READ & DOWNLOAD:
bit.ly/PHExpoLegacy
The Bangkóta Legacy The Republic of the Philippines at Expo 2020 Dubai