Arroyo drops by Al Gore lecture before flying to China

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left for Shanghai, China on Tuesday afternoon, her last foreign trip as the Philippines’ Chief Executive. Besides visiting the Shanghai World Expo 2010, she will also meet with Yu Zhengsheng, Secretary of the Shanghai Committee of the Communist Party of China, as part of celebrations to commemorate the 35th anniversary on Wednesday of the friendship between the Philippines and China. The UP Madrigal Singers and the Ballet Philippines dancers are expected to perform during Arroyo’s visit. On June 9, Arroyo will visit the Philippines’ pavilion at the World Expo, showing the country’s “culture and accomplishments of the administration in the tourism and economic sectors." “This will serve as a fitting tribute to the best that is Filipino…Our participation will also serve as a confirmation of our close ties with China which has been one of our biggest trading partners over the years," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Rogelio Peyuan said. A book entitled “A Selection of Folk Tales from the Philippines for the Young Chinese Reader" will also be launched during Arroyo’s visit, helping increase awareness of the Philippines among Chinese children. A selection of ten illustrated Philippine folk tales, the book is translated into Chinese and "seeks to introduce the young Chinese reader to distinctively Filipino beliefs and traditions," Philippine Ambassador to China Francisco Benedicto said in a press release. The 10 Filipino folk tales include:

• The Origin of the Stars (Tagalog)
• The First Coconut Tree and the Creation of Man (Tagalog)
• Why the Pineapple Has Many Eyes (Hiligaynon)
• The Legend of Lapulapu (Cebuano)
• Origin of Rice (Tagalog)
• How Fire Came to Man (Ilocano)
• Origin of the Monkey and the Crocodile (Tagalog)
• Mariang Makiling (Tagalog);
• How the Firefly, Bat, Mosquito, Field Lizard and Light Bug Acquired Their Characteristics (Tagalog)
• and A Tiny Bird (Maranao)

The book project was undertaken by the Philippine Embassy in Beijing together with the Association for Philippines-China Understanding (APCU) and the Liwayway Corp. The folktales were translated into Chinese by teachers, students, and alumni of the Philippine Studies program of Peking University while the illustrations were made by Maria Natalia Pilar Burgos and Maira Martina Vega. The book, with initial printing of 10,000 copies, will be distributed “at no cost" to select primary schools all over China, Benedicto said. Before leaving for China, Arroyo dropped by the SMX Convention Center at the SM Mall of Asia to meet former United States vice president and environmentalist Al Gore, who is in the country delivering a talk about climate change. Although the Philippines has a small carbon footprint, the government has produced good legislation such as the Climate Change Act, Arroyo said in an ambush interview. - RJAB Jr./JV, GMANews.TV