The Taiwan Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) brought a cultural showcase to the Philippine capital on Feb. 27 as part of its 2026 Lunar New Year Goodwill Mission Asia Tour to strengthen ties through artistic diplomacy.
The Taiwan Acrobatic Troupe of the National College of Performing Arts performed at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Frassati Auditorium for an audience of 500 people.
Attendees included Taiwanese community members, faculty, students and officials from the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO).
The production, titled “The Vibrant Taiwan,” utilized four segments to blend traditional acrobatics with violin, contemporary dance and multimedia imagery. The performance sections included “Origins,” “The First Light,” “Y2K Heartbeat: The Sound of the Future” and “Glimmering City, Artistic Taiwan.”
Mission head of delegation Yi-chuan Yang said the production required more than three months of preparation to integrate traditional skills, live music and digital stage design to showcase Taiwan’s artistic soft power.
TECO in the Philippines Rep. Wallace Minn-Gan Chow said the mission reflects a commitment to cultural diplomacy.
“Through performances like this, we share the joy of the Lunar New Year while deepening people-to-people connections between Taiwan and the Philippines,” Chow said.
“Culture is a powerful bridge that strengthens mutual understanding and friendship,” he said.
UST secretary-general Rev. Fr. Louie Coronel welcomed the delegation and highlighted the university’s focus on fostering global partnerships through education.
MECO director Brigitte Villaluz expressed appreciation for the ongoing exchanges between the 2 communities.
Founded in 1990, the Taiwan Acrobatic Troupe is the only government professional acrobatic and stunt group in Taiwan. Its members undergo more than 8 years of training and have represented the country in various international venues.
The event featured additional cultural presentations from the UST Junior High School Glee Club and the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe.
The program was organized by TECO, OCAC, the Philippine Taiwanese Community Joint Preparatory Committee and the UST Office of Public Affairs.
Other officials in attendance included MECO director Wilson Tecson, OCAC council members Huang Ya-Hui, Jaime Tan and Chiang Fu-Long, TECO in the Philippines Culture Center director Eric Chuang and TECO in the Philippines Culture Center deputy director Florian Chien.
