Taiwan underscored its cultural diplomacy efforts in the Philippines as the Taiwan Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) staged its 2026 Lunar New Year Goodwill Mission Asia Tour at the historic University of Santo Tomas (UST), captivating an audience of around 500 guests.
Featuring the Taiwan Acrobatic Troupe of the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, the performance transformed the Frassati Auditorium into a vibrant stage celebrating artistry, innovation, and cross-cultural friendship.
Themed “The Vibrant Taiwan,” the program unfolded in four segments — Origins, The First Light, Y2K Heartbeat: The Sound of the Future, and Glimmering City, Artistic Taiwan. The production seamlessly fused traditional acrobatics with violin performance, contemporary dance, and immersive digital imagery, presenting a dynamic portrait of Taiwan’s evolving creative identity.
Audiences responded with sustained applause to gravity-defying feats, including diabolo spinning, plate juggling, tumbling, cycling stunts, and aerial acrobatics — all executed with precision and theatrical elegance by performers trained for more than eight years in the discipline of acrobatic arts.
In his remarks, Representative Wallace Minn-Gan Chow of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) emphasized the role of culture in strengthening bilateral ties.
“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.”
Rev. Fr. Louie R. Coronel, OP, EHL, Secretary General of UST, welcomed the delegation and highlighted the university’s enduring commitment to global engagement. Hosting the Philippine–Taiwan Night, he noted, reflects UST’s dedication to intercultural dialogue and academic cooperation.
Director Brigitte D. Villaluz of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) likewise underscored the importance of sustained cultural exchanges in enhancing mutual understanding and reaffirmed MECO’s support for initiatives that promote Philippines–Taiwan collaboration.
Head of delegation Yi-chuan Yang shared that the Manila production required more than three months of preparation, integrating traditional acrobatic mastery, live music, and digital stagecraft to showcase Taiwan’s artistic soft power abroad.
Founded in 1990, the Taiwan Acrobatic Troupe is Taiwan’s only government professional acrobatic arts and stunt performance group. Over the years, it has represented Taiwan in numerous international tours, earning acclaim for its blend of technical rigor, grace, and contemporary creativity.
The evening also highlighted Filipino artistry, with cultural exchange performances from the UST Junior High School Glee Club and the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe — reinforcing the longstanding partnership between Taiwan and the university.
The February 27 event was organized in partnership with TECO in the Philippines, OCAC, the Philippine Taiwanese Community Joint Preparatory Committee, and UST through its Office of Public Affairs.
Also in attendance were Director Wilson U. Tecson of MECO; OCAC Council Members Huang Ya-Hui, Jaime Tan, and Chiang Fu-Long; Eric Chuang, Director of the Culture Center of TECO in the Philippines; and Deputy Director Florian Chien of the Culture Center of TECO in the Philippines.
Organizers expressed optimism that continued collaboration between Taiwanese and Philippine institutions will further expand educational, artistic, and cultural exchanges — reinforcing the enduring friendship between the two peoples.