Taiwanese performers share Lunar New Year joy at Philippines show

Manila, Feb. 16 (CNA) 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.

Hosted by Joyce Chiu (邱怡澍), Taiwan's representative to the Miss International 2019 beauty pageant, the event kicked off with DJ David (DJ大衛) firing up the crowd with energizing music.

Sangpuy Katatepan Mavaliyw (桑布伊), a singer from Taiwan's Indigenous Pinuyumayan community, Ayugo Huang (黃連煜), a Taiwanese singer of Hakka heritage, and Taiwanese singer Siao Ai (謝曉艾) all performed at the show.

Rock band The Chairman also delivered a lively musical performance that channeled Taiwan's diverse and welcoming vibe, while a Philippine dance troupe and choir from the University of Santo Tomas also showcased their talents.

Speaking to the audience in English, Taiwan's Representative to the Philippines Wallace Chow (周民淦) said the show was "not just a display of music, but also a celebration of cultural exchange."

"Through the powerful music we hope you can feel today's warmth and vitality," he added.

"This event is a testament of the power of people-to-people connections and the opportunities that arise when we come together to foster friendship and goodwill," UST Secretary-general Rev. Fr. Louie R. Coronel said.

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 Feb. 4 and March 13.

Speaking to a CNA reporter after the event, Philippine student Sophia Hubilla said that she learned a lot about Taiwan through "all the culture and music performances."

"Especially, I didn't know that Indigenous music was promoted so well in Taiwan so I think it would be nice to study in Taiwan," she added.