Envoy donates Philippine costumes to Russian museum

Philippine Ambassador to Russia Victor Garcia III and his wife Concepcion made a personal donation of Philippine costumes to the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography — the KUNSTKAMERA — in St. Petersburg. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the costumes were donated to Museum authorities led by Director Professor Yuri Chistov on October 19. Garcia said the donation is to commemorate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Russia. Among those who witnessed the turnover of the costumes was KUNSTKAMERA Research Director Professor Maria Stanyukovich, who has done extensive studies on Philippine native folklore including the Hudhud and Igorot epics. The costumes, which included a terno and a barong Tagalog, will be displayed as part of the museum's main exhibition. Renowned Filipino fashion designer Renee Salud designed the red-and-black hand-embroidered abaca terno and the hand-embroidered jusi black barong Tagalog. KUNSTKAMERA is one of the oldest ethnographical museums in the world. Established 297 years ago, the museum houses various items from more than 180 countries and regions around the world. - VVP, GMA News