March 28, 2024

Mayor Benjamin Magalong has cited the success of the city’s participation in the Unesco World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (Mondiacult 2022) last Sept. 28 to 30 in Mexico City.
The mayor’s presentation entitled “Global Unity in Creativity,” which showcased the Philippines’ efforts in institutionalizing the creative economy during the Philippine-led high-level side event of the Mondiacult 2022 Conference, was highly received.
The Department of Foreign Affairs in a press statement said, “Mayor Magalong’s presentation received positive responses and observations from the audience, organizers, and donors and elicited the active engagement of the participants.”
The mayor shared Baguio City’s experience in implementing the Unesco Culture 2030 Indicators Framework, particularly the cultural work experiences based on the cultural thematic indicators.
These were a product of a year-long research undertaken by the Creative Baguio City Council (CBCC) in collaboration with the academic institutions in the city.
The CBCC is co-chaired by Dr. Raymundo Rovillos, who attended the conference with the mayor.
During the event, the mayor said h e was able to “engage other creative city mayors across the world, exchanging courtesy notes on the significant developments taking place in their respective locales.”
The mayor “also availed of the occasion to explore cultural exchanges with his counterpart officials, convinced that each creative city has cultural developments that can impart lessons for sustaining shared peace and prosperity for their respective constituency.”
The conference was participated in by some 250 representatives of the United Nations Creative Cities Network.
Others in the Philippine delegation were Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Philippines to Unesco H.E. Junever Mahilum-West, National Commission for Culture and the Arts Commissioner on Cultural Heritage Arch. Michael Manalo, First Secretary and Consul Kristine Margret Malang (Permanent Delegation of the Philippines to Unesco), NCCA Deputy Executive Director Bernan Joseph Corpuz, and Unesco National Commission of the Philippines Deputy Executive Director Lindsay Barrientos. – Aileen P. Refuerzo