Manila: A Taiwanese group featuring singers, dancers, a DJ, and a beauty pageant contestant showcased Taiwan at a university in Manila on Saturday, delivering Lunar New Year greetings to overseas Taiwanese and Philippine students through lively musical performances. Around 600 attendees saw the show — “Brilliant Taiwan” — at the 413-year-old University of Santo Tomas (UST) located in the heart of the Philippine capital.

According to Focus Taiwan, the event was hosted by Joyce Chiu, Taiwan’s representative to the Miss International 2019 beauty pageant. The show kicked off with DJ David energizing the crowd with his music. The lineup included performances by Sangpuy Katatepan Mavaliyw from Taiwan’s Indigenous Pinuyumayan community, Ayugo Huang, a singer of Hakka heritage, and Taiwanese singer Siao Ai. Rock band The Chairman also delivered a musical performance, capturing Taiwan’s welcoming vibe, while a Philippine dance troupe and choir from the University of Santo Tomas showcased their talents.

Speaking to the audience in English, Taiwan’s Representative to the Philippines Wallace Chow highlighted that the show was “not just a display of music, but also a celebration of cultural exchange.” He emphasized the warmth and vitality conveyed through the music. UST Secretary-general Rev. Fr. Louie R. Coronel echoed this sentiment, describing the event as a testament to the power of people-to-people connections and the opportunities that arise from fostering friendship and goodwill.

The Taiwanese cultural delegation was organized by Taiwan’s Overseas Community Affairs Council, which promotes exchanges between Taiwanese communities at home and abroad. Saturday’s performance in Manila was the fourth stop of a 15-city tour that includes shows in Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Vietnam between February 4 and March 13.

After the event, Philippine student Sophia Hubilla shared with a CNA reporter her newfound appreciation for Taiwanese culture, particularly the promotion of Indigenous music. She expressed interest in studying in Taiwan, inspired by the cultural and musical performances she experienced.