Philippine Consul General to Barcelona Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro (left) expresses gratitude to the University of Andorra (UdA), led by University Rector and former Andorran Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Juli Minoves Triquell (right), during the opening of the “Archipelagic State” photo exhibit at the halls of UdA. (Photo by Barcelona PCG)
ANDORRA, 10 March 2025 — The Philippines' rich maritime heritage and identity graced the hallways of the University of Andorra with the photo exhibit entitled “L’Estat arxipelàgic – Explorant la identitat de les Filipines i la seva relació amb els oceans” (The Archipelagic State: Exploring the Philippine Identity and its Relationship with the Oceans)”, which opened on 10 March 2025.
The photo exhibit is one of the key activities planned for this year’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of Philippines-Andorra diplomatic relations.
Adding to its significance, Philippine Consul General to Barcelona Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro inaugurated the exhibit alongside Dr. Juli Minoves Triquell, former Andorran Minister of Foreign Affairs and current Rector of the University of Andorra (UdA). Notably, it was Rector Minoves himself who, on behalf of the Andorran government, signed the official documents establishing Philippines-Andorra diplomatic relations in 2001.
“Cultural diplomacy events like today’s are a privileged and useful tool that opens doors to strengthening friendship and ties and bolstering bilateral relations between countries. Thanks to the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona, the powerful images of the Filipino peoples’ relationship with the seas and ocean around them are made available to the university community,” said Rector Minoves.
More than a dozen of images by Philippine-based American photographer Mr. Jacob Maentz have been curated by Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona to highlight the Philippines' unique character as an archipelago and its people’s maritime heritage.
“Through these images, we hope that our students, faculty, and the whole community of the University of Andorra will be able to understand how the Philippine archipelago is a way of life for Filipinos, emphasizing the interconnected communities, and ecosystems,” said Philippine Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro.
“Because of our archipelagic nature of 7,641 islands, our country is marked by cultural diversity – with each island developing a culture unique to its island. We cannot overemphasize the importance of water in our life – water has shaped our culture, our economy, our livelihood, our industry”, added Consulate General Lazaro.
The Photo exhibit also forms part of the Consulate’s series of public diplomacy initiatives with leading universities under its jurisdiction.
Andorra, a microstate situated between Spain and France, is home to about a thousand Filipinos, including second-generation residents, and falls under the consular jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona.
For more information and updates, please visit the Consulate's official website or follow on Facebook, Instagram and X (@PHinBarcelona).
The careful curation of images provided by Philippine-based American photographer Jacob Maentz highlights the shared themes of interest between the Philippines and Andorra, including climate change and environmental sustainability. (Photo by Barcelona PCG)
The exhibit is a first from the Philippines to be staged inside the premises of the University of Andorra. The exhibit showcases the Philippines’ unique identity as an archipelago, as well as its maritime heritage, and its longstanding commitment to international law and the rule of law in the maritime domain as an archipelagic state under UNCLOS. (Photo by Barcelona PCG)
Further adding to the significance of the “Archipelagic State” Exhibit towards showcasing Philippines’ longstanding commitment to international law and the rule of law in the maritime domain as an archipelagic state under UNCLOS, Rector Minoves recalled being in Manila with former President Benigno Aquino III on 16 July 2016, the very day the Philippines' 2016 Arbitral Award was announced (Photo by University of Andorra)
The photo exhibit is running until 31 March 2025. Featured photos are from the Philippine-based American Documentarist Jacob Maentz, whose works emphasize the interconnectedness of communities amidst the Philippine archipelago's geographic, historic, and cultural diversity, and how the dynamic shapes the national identity and psyche of Filipinos. (Photo by Barcelona PCG)