The European Union (EU) Delegation to the Philippines together with EU Member States' Embassies and European cultural institutes will inaugurate once again their annual cultural season called  "Viva Europa".

"Viva Europa is part of our cultural diplomacy which aims at reinforcing mutual understanding and strengthening people-to-people links",  said European Union Ambassador Franz Jessen.

For this year's edition, the European Union Delegation will "Go Techno" following the Copernicus Programme Conference that took place last March.

The Copernicus Programme is a cornerstone of EU efforts to monitor the earth and its many ecosystems from integrated space and ground-based data. This European system uses satellites for monitoring the Earth and is able to provide high-resolution imagery daily generating precise information that can be utilized in multiple fields such as food security, deforestation, climate change, pollution and natural disasters. The high resolution data provided by Copernicus is also used by innovative businesses to develop satellite-enabled products and services.

"EU Goes techno" will be the overarching theme of this year's Europa Day reception on 9 May.  In cooperation with the Manila Astronomical Society, the EU Delegation will also conduct a stargazing activity  and a session on stars and constellations for  interested youths and other sectors on the third week of May.

Along with Copernicus-related activities, Viva Europa 2019 will cover topics like children's rights, environmental protection and music.

Children will be in the spotlight when the EU Delegation and Museo Pambata together with the Embassies of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, and the Philippine-Italian Association will give disadvantaged children the opportunity to hear European stories and to participate in games and other fun cultural activities.

Following the successful bike tours in Palawan and Guimaras in previous years, the EU will hold a bike tour in Bohol from 6 to 7 May to stress the need to help protect the environment and to promote sustainable lifestyle. Coincidentally, the European Commission will launch on 1 to 31 May VeloMai, the EU Institutions’ bike-to-work challenge. For the second year running, most of the EU Institutions including the EU Delegation in Manila, will be participating. The VeloMai campaign promotes the use of the bicycle as a healthy – and sustainable – mode of transport, namely to commute to work, in line with the health & wellbeing and staff mobility policies of the EU Institutions. This also helps to improve the air quality.

The Schuman Cup will be held on 4 May in Ayala Alabang to help educate Filipino children from disadvantaged communities about football and how this is played in Europe. European diplomats will also test their skills in football as they will friendly compete against Filipino professional players.  The Schuman Cup is a one-day football festival that aims to foster stronger ties between the European Union and the Philippines through sportsmanship and camaraderie. It reflects the peace and unity commemorated on Schuman Day, as well as promote the fundamental values upheld by the EU: Respect, Freedom, Democracy, Equality and the Rule of Law.

Signature events such as the "Euro-Pinoy Concert" on 7 May in The Ruins in Poblacion, Makati  and "Musica FEUropa", the yearly nationwide choir competition from 25 to 26 May at the Far Eastern University will also take place this year. For the Euro-Pinoy Concert, performers will come from the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain and the Philippines.  Lukáš Sommer is one of the leading personalities in the current generation of young Czech composers. Beginning in 1998, he studied at the Conservatory in České Budějovice and specialised in guitar under Professor Vilma Manová and composition under Professor Jiří Churáček. In 2003, he studied one year at the Prague Conservatory under Professor Věroslav Neumann. In 2009, he graduated from the Academy of Performing Arts where he studied composition under Professor Ivan Kurz. He is the author of more than 40 opuses for different works.

Spanish Alex Alcaraz is a Flamenco guitarist who was born and raised in Granada, Spain. In 2012, he decided to move to the Philippines and since then, he has been collaborating with Flamenco academies in Manila and several Filipino musicians.

Jean Paul Zialcita is a Filipino percussionist who uses an exotic mix of upcycled found objects and local materials combined with elements of Filipino Martial Arts to reimagine the Philippines on the world stage in what he calls the “Age of ^CAN DO^.

DJ Marie Badkiss is half-German, half-Filipina, is able to conjure a cocktail mix of flavors from different music genres that keeps one's feet moving to the beat. Her edgy look and equally mesmerizing music have landed her among the top hottest female club DJs in Manila, according to WheninManila.com. Her rock solid reputation for quality music selection transcending genres, trends and generations has allowed her to share her outstanding talent with the world – from going on a nationwide tour with Philippine telco giant to playing launches and in-store parties as resident DJ for Louis Vuitton. She performs in different clubs in Manila including Time, Club XX XX (20/20), Chotto Matte, Café Curieux and The Belle and Dragon.

VIVA EUROPA 2019

Viva Europa 2019 is the outcome of a fruitful cooperation between the EU Delegation to the Philippines and the Embassies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom, as well as Alliance Francaise, the British Council, the Goethe-Institut, Instituto Cervantes and the Philippine-Italian Association.

Joint EU activities under Viva Europa 2019 are being held in partnership with the Museo Pambata, the Far Eastern University, and Bohol City Government.