Intramuros and our shared heritage

A “zul es el pensamiento.” This was what our beloved National Artist Nick Joaquín said of the color blue in his poem, “Verde, Yo Te Quiero Verde.”

Blue, as Nick Joaquín described, is the color of thought.

Last Tuesday, May 8, I had the privilege of attending the inauguration of Instituto Cervantes Intramuros located in CASA AZUL, Plaza San Luis Complex.

This new cultural center and second branch of Instituto Cervantes is a first class cultural and language hub designed to cultivate and foster our heritage, culture, and shared friendship between the Philippines and Spain through a partnership with Intramuros Administration.

I cannot fully express my gratitude to my friends and colleagues from the embassy of Spain, particularly Ambassador Luis Calvo, Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines, and Instituto Cervantes de Manila Director Carlos Madrid, for their tremendous efforts in strengthening our shared culture through language and literary work.

Since 2008, we have persevered in fostering and encouraging the learning of the Spanish language which covers a deep aspect of our heritage as well as presents with great value how the language facility has economically equipped Spanish speakers here and all over the world, considering that 21 countries world wide, as we say in Spanish, “Habla Español.”

Having devoted some time in 2013 to heritage in Intramuros, it is certainly amazing to see how Intramuros Administration under the Department of Tourism is dedicated in both promoting and preserving our culture and heritage especially since Intramuros symbolizes the historical heart of Manila.

The inauguration of Instituto Cervantes in Casa Azul sparks within us a sense of national pride as not only has a language facility enabled Spanish speakers to thrive in a wide range of professions, it has also equipped us in diplomatic relations as a result of our close connection. If you really think about it, and again, as Nick Joaquin once said, “Identity is the history that has gone into bone and blood and reshaped the flesh. Identity is not what we were but what we have become what we are at this moment.” ¡Enhorabuena Instituto Cervantes de Manila! Truly, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.” Mabuhay!