FrancoPhil, the 2011 French cultural season in the Philippines, is a play on the word “Francophile,” meaning a lover of French culture, and is a celebration of the ties that bind French and Filipino culture. The word also signals the expansion of the cultural season to other major cities such as Cebu, as well as highlights the collaboration between French and Filipino artists in many of the events.

    The FrancoPhil program, spread throughout the year, is a sustained mission to bring French culture to the greater Filipino public, which usually sees French events as “too highbrow” or too distant from their everyday lives.

    With the fun, eclectic line-up of activities this year, there’s something for everyone in FrancoPhil.

• April 13: French Glamour in Manila : Eric Raisina Fashion show, at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel (by invitation only)
  
  
• May 4 to June 4: “Kilometer Zero” Photography Project at the Quezon City Memorial Circle (opening cocktail on May 4 by invitation only)
  
  
• May 16 to 26: Rap in Tondo II (Workshops in Tondo; closing concert qt B-side, The Collective, 9pm, May 26)
  
  
• May 19: Modern Circus featuring the company Chabatz d’Entrar at the RCBC Auditorium
  
  
• June 16: Jazz Concert featuring the Eric Legnini Trio at the Ayala Museum
  
  
• June 25: Fête de la musique at the Ayala Triangle featuring the French Celtic Rock band Merzhin
  
  
• June 8 to 18: 16th French Film Festival in Manila at the Shangri-la Plaza Mall
  
  
• October 7: Rock Concert featuring the band Subway at UP
  
  
• October: Painting Exhibit featuring Hervé Di Rosa and Manuel Ocampo

 

    FrancoPhil is organized by the Embassy of France to the Philippines and the Alliance française de Manille, with the support of Air France KLM, Daniel Hechter, L’Oréal Philippines, Marithé  François Girbaud, Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Supply Oilfield Services, TOTAL, and VEOLIA Water.