Vietnam through the eyes of a Philippine diplomat

On the morning of December 9, at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, the Philippine Embassy in Vietnam organized the exhibition “Where Eyes Meet: Visual Narration through Poetic Journeys”, displaying works by Ambassador Meynardo LB. Montealegre during his tenure in the S-shaped country.

Delegates take photos at the exhibition. (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

Attending the event were Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, former President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; Ambassador Nguyen Thac Dinh, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam-Philippines Friendship Association; Ms. Tran Thi Kim Que, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum; Ms. Le Thi Phung, Honorary Consul General of the Philippines in Ho Chi Minh City; Dr. Nguyen Phuong Hoa, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Do Hong Quan, President of the Vietnam Literature and Arts Association; and representatives of embassies and international organizations.

Ambassador Meynardo LB. Montealegre hopes that the exhibition will contribute to building a strong bridge of cooperation between Vietnam and the Philippines. (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Meynardo LB. Montealegre called himself a "storyteller through images", with frames taken in different lands during his tenure in Vietnam.

For him, photography is not only about technique but also about “observation from the heart”. Therefore, the Ambassador hopes that viewers will also feel those emotions when enjoying his works.

Explaining the name of the exhibition, Ambassador Montalegre borrowed a metaphor from the diplomatic profession. Initially, invisible barriers may exist between countries due to cultural and historical differences. But with perseverance and goodwill, the parties can completely find common ground to reach a deep understanding of each other.

Through this exhibition, the diplomat also hopes to contribute to building a strong bridge of cooperation between Vietnam and the Philippines.

The event attracted many domestic and international guests. (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

In particular, in the context of the two countries celebrating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Strategic Partnership (October 17, 2015 - October 17, 2025) and towards the milestone of 50 years of establishing diplomatic relations (July 12, 1976 - July 12, 2026), Ambassador Montalegre emphasized that the exhibition is an important cultural activity, marking the common commemorative journey of the two countries.

Also on this important occasion, the Ambassador announced that his term in Vietnam will end in mid-January 2026, coinciding with the time to welcome that historic milestone.

The exhibition took place in a cozy atmosphere. Here, visitors were led on a journey of emotional visual connection, where the landscapes and people of Vietnam and many other places in the world appeared realistically and poetically through the delicate perspective of a diplomat.

These works are not only personal memories but also the feelings of Ambassador Montalegre for this S-shaped land. Therefore, the exhibition is also a cultural bridge, helping people of the two countries understand more about the beauty, culture and soul of each other.

Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato' Tan Yang Thai highly appreciated the exhibition. (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

In an interview with The World and Vietnam Newspaper, Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato' Tan Yang Thai highly appreciated the authenticity and depth of the exhibition, considering it a vivid overview of Mr. Montalegre's working process in Vietnam.

In particular, Ambassador Dato' Tan Yang Thai expressed strong impressions of the everyday moments captured by his colleague, especially the images of innocent and carefree rural children.

These photos not only depict the simple, everyday beauty of life but also show the closeness and naturalness between local people and international friends.

Colombian Ambassador to Vietnam Camila María Polo Flórez at the exhibition. (Photo: Tien Pham)

For her part, Colombian Ambassador to Vietnam Camila María Polo Flórez emphasized that the exhibition showed the artistic talent, as well as the qualities of a diplomat inside Mr. Montalegre.

Through the camera lens, each photo is a moment for Ambassador Montalegre to contemplate and share her perspective on life. Ms. Flórez affirmed that the value of a photographer lies not only in composition or color, but also in the ability to touch the emotions of the viewer.

From there, the art of photography will break down all barriers, turning personal experiences into shared assets, opening up space for the public to feel and talk about simple yet humane beauty.

Some pictures at the exhibition

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki enjoys the works. (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

Charge d'Affaires of the Iranian Embassy in Vietnam Mohammad Mirali Mohammadi. (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

Ambassador Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre has a special passion for photography. In March 2006, he launched his first solo photo exhibition titled “Images and Impressions” at the Philippine Center Gallery in New York (USA). After that, he continued to participate in many international art exhibitions in countries such as Austria, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and especially in Vietnam, including the exhibition “Colors of Culture” on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries (2021 - 2025) and the Hanoi Lotus Festival in 2024.

One of the Ambassador’s photos taken in Ha Giang was voted “Most Favorite Photo” in the “Happy Vietnam 2024” photo and video contest organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications. In 2022, his art photo book “Mute Storyteller” was also published by the Diplomatic Academy of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/viet-nam-qua-con-mat-cua-nha-ngoai-giao-philippines-337134.html