Before Peppa Pig became famous in the Philippines, we’ve already been accustomed to many British brands. Over 200 British companies are currently operating in the Philippines—with many more eager to come.
Aside from consumer brands and firms, Brits themselves are also coming here to the country to live and work. Similarly, a growing number of students from the Philippines, according to British Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce, are preferring to study in Great Britain, in addition to the thriving community of over 200,000 Filipino nationals living and working in GB.
In a bid to promote the “great” in Great Britain, the Great British Festival is currently happening across the Philippines. The two-week affair showcases the best of Britain’s music, fashion, food, and arts.
The event, which kicked off on Feb. 23 and will run until March 10, has rolled out a variety of activities in Metro Manila, Baguio, Iloilo, Cebu, and Dumaguete
Some of the activities are Artkitektura, a forum on global architecture and urban developments on Feb. 24 and British Bake-Off, a competition hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce, which also happened on the 24th. A series of lectures led by British experts took place at UP Diliman on Feb. 27 and at De La Salle University on Feb. 28.
A talk by the British Ambassador on British excellence, transnational education, and UK business excellence was held at Saint Louis University on March 1, which will then talk place at Siliman University in Dumaguete on March 5-6. A trade mission in Iloilo City is scheduled on March 7-9. There is also a showcase of the best of British food and drink in Cebu City in association with Chef Jason Atherton.
Other activities during the Great British Festival include great trivia challenge, British film screenings, storytelling for children, a whisky pavilion, and the much-awaited Rockaoke Contest, where the winner will win two tickets to London via Etihad Airways.
“What’s great about the British Festival is not only the breadth and depth of our activities but also the wide range of partners that are joining us in this great celebration of the UK, with supporters from wide range of sectors all doing their bit to promote the great in Great Britain,” enthused Pruce.
To see the complete schedule of activities, visit www.gov.uk/world/philippines.