PIQC: Link in 'soft power', people to people exchange, says Casa Asia Director General

 

By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY, Oct. 22 (PIA) - The Philippine International Quincentennial Conference (PIQC) is a link in the so called 'soft power' and people to people exchange, according to Javier Parrondo, director general of Casa Asia in Barcelona, Spain who was among the invited panelists at the virtual PIQC held recently.

Parrondo said he is very happy that he was invited to participate in the special virtual session because it is a way to generate a solid network between people and entities that contribute to bring closer Asia and the Pacific and Spain.

He explained the commemoration has given the opportunity to cooperate in the project with other institutions in Spain and abroad.

"We have succeeded to cooperate in this commemoration in Asia and Europe," he said.

Parrondo informed that the Philippines is obviously a country of special attention in Casa Asia since it is the Asian country that Spain shares the biggest historical and cultural ties.

This year, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila, the first modern university was recognized by Casa Asia and awarded for “being a historical, academic, and cultural reference, as well as playing a key role in education and training in the Philippines for more than 400 years, which turns it into the oldest modern university in Asia."

Parrondo hopes the PIQC will contribute to the advancement of the countries' mutual relations.

Casia Asia is a public diplomacy institution created in 2001 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain with a view to improving knowledge and relations between Asian, Pacific, and Spanish societies in institutional, economic, cultural, and educational arenas, as well as to bring perspectives closer together and facilitate the exchange and sharing of cultures, ideas, and common projects. (EDT/GCC/PIA9-Zamboanga del Sur)