H.E. Jana Reinišova Ambassador for the Czech Republic.

The Štěpán Rak Guitar Competition for young guitar players

Once again H.E.Jana Reinišova Ambassador for the Czech Republic made her residence in The Hague available for a series of concerts on May 10 and 11 2017, Both concerts were under the acumen direction of Štěpán Rak along with Dr. Mariel Peñaloza Moreno. For additional Kim Vermaat’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157684444458780

The concert on 10th May was a Certificate Awarding Gala Concert for participants of the Štěpán Rak Guitar Competition for Young Guitar Players (from 10 up to 18 years old), it consisted of an open competition concert. There were 3 levels: one for beginners (Category A), one for intermediate students (Category B) and another one for more advanced students (category C). The actual competition itself took place on Monday 8th May at the Malcolm Davies Auditorium at the International School of The Hague. The objective of the concert was to build a bridge between the international community and the local through guitar music. Interfacing Culture is the motto. The didactic projects for guitar wish to promote creativity, composition skills, and performance skills on a very polifacetic instrument such as the guitar. The Štěpán Rak Guitar Competition 2017 is dedicated to the Czech classical composer Štěpán Rak (1945), who has produced major works for guitar, innovating the instrument’s technique. The purposes of this project are to promote:

•    A contemporary repertoire for guitar.
•    Štěpán Rak’s compositions for guitar.
•    New instrumental techniques for guitar.
•    A bridge between an international community of young guitar players.
•    A reflection of the Czech identity based on a specific contemporary Czech cultural expression.
•   That young guitar players get in touch with Štěpán Rak’s guitar repertoire.
•    A joyful environment for guitar players to play to their strengths.

The repertoire for the competition was strictly a guitar composition by Štěpán Rak.

The winners are: Category A: 1st place: Ryan Azfa / Furiant 2nd place: Letizia di Francescantonio / Good bye 3rd place: Luka van der Weelden / Znelka-Introduction Category B: 1st place: Daniel Smith / Ancient Song 2nd place: Sam Dilling / Lullaby 3rd place: Ester Holá / Mysterious winter (from the 5 Fairy Tales) Category C: 1st place: Pleunie Euser / Golden coach (from the 5 Fairy Tales) and Barbarian Dance 2nd place: Emre Yalcin / Malé Blues (NB: sick and could not come to the gala) 3rd place: Carlos Gutiérrez / Spanish Dance The composer Štěpán Rak studied at the Fine Arts School in Prague and continued guitar studies at the Prague conservatory. He studied composition at the Prague Academy of Arts and taught guitar at the Jyväskylä Conservatory in Finland. In 2000, he was historically and officially named the first professor of Guitar in the Czech Republic at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, where he still teaches guitar. His contribution to the guitar world is not only thanks to his prolific composition activity but through his new techniques and guitar explorations, for example, the use of the 5 fingers of the right hand. According to this Czech composer “Humans have five fingers on their hands and I do not see one viable reason why any one of them should be excluded from playing”. His strumming expanded techniques inevitably lead to a freer and more unorthodox use of the usual 4 fingers of the right hand, representing a challenge to the guitar player, even with compositions where no extended technique is used. Moreover, this opens new doors for the compositions themselves, as more and new elements allow for more and new possibilities.

Another element in his compositional language is the contemporary use of ‘colors’ in the guitar, given by the use of sull tasto (playing near the frets) and sull ponticello (playing near the bridge), which enhances the guitar soundscape. The teacher Mariel Peñaloza Moreno studied Guitar at the National School of Music of Mexico, being the second woman who graduated (with distinction) in Guitar studies. She became a professor of Guitar at that same institution before moving to The Netherlands to study guitar at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. She then followed masters in Image and Sound at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts while she followed masters in musicology at the University of Amsterdam. Peñaloza got a Ph.D. in Dutch ethnology at that same University. She has an experience of more than twenty years in guitar teaching and founded Guitar@Work as a forum for exploring the magical world of the guitar. Building bridges is her motto and the Štěpán Rak Guitar Competition is an example thereof. Organizers and sponsors 1)   The Embassy of the Czech republic in The Netherlands 2)   The Czech Center in Rotterdam 3)   Guitar@Work 4)   Cez Group 5)   Ajeto Glassworks 6)   The International School of The Hague On Thursday 11th May a concert by Štěpán Rak was held at the residence of Ambassador Jana Reinišova .  

H.E. Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda. By Roy Lie A Tjam. H.E. Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda organized a reception to celebrate his country’s 119th Independence Day Kalayaan on the SS Rotterdam, 23 June 2017. Ambassador Ledda made the following remarks: I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you for joining us this evening to celebrate the 119th anniversary of the Declaration of the Philippines independence and taking the time to travel to Rotterdam for this occasion. I would like to acknowledge the presence of Mr Roellof van Ees, the Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for assuring us in the Philippine Embassy that we are not in breach of protocol for holding this national day reception. For addional KimVeermat´s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157684251645900

This is not a matter of doing something different but there is an important reason for holding our reception in Rotterdam and here in the SS Rotterdam. Rotterdam is host to thousands of seafarers who call at Europe’s largest and busiest port. It is estimated that one out of every four seafarers in the world is a Filipino. By hosting this year’s reception, I want to highlight the very close maritime cooperation between the Philippines and the Netherlands and the complementarity that has been created from this partnership. Every year since the year 2000, we hold bilateral consultations; maritime authorities, ship owners and manpower providers and other stakeholders to discuss and exchange information on industry developments, promote contacts and address current issues and concerns such as training and certification compliance, maritime safety and security, promotion and protection of seafarer’s welfare, among others.

As Filipino seafarers make significant contributions to the competitiveness of the Dutch shipping industry, they also make significant contributions to the Philippine economy with their remittances which reached almost US$125 million in 2016. I would like to take this opportunity to salute the Filipino seafarers for their brave and indomitable spirit and character (to quote the Secretary of Foreign Affairs) who distinguish themselves among the more than 10 million Filipinos living and working abroad. Sadly, they’re not with us tonight but I was able to express my country’s appreciation to some of them, last Sunday, the 28th of June, was incidentally the International Day of the Seafarer.

 I would like to acknowledge also Honorary Consuls General Eppo Horlings and Albert Bos of Amsterdam and Rotterdam who have been dedicated in their respective roles to promote the Philippines and their contribution to enhancing this particular aspect of the bilateral relations. I want to thank the very active Filipino community for joining hands with Dutch volunteer groups and foundations in providing support services for the seafarers and various socio-civic causes. The Philippine Embassy happily supports your efforts in promoting invaluable people-to-people relations. I would also like to sincerely thank my colleagues in the Philippine Embassy who have been very gallant in the performance of their functions from extending consular services, undertaking efforts to promote Philippine cuisine and culture, working together with our ASEAN colleagues to celebrate ASEAN’s 50th Anniversary this year. Thank you for striving to do your best. Finally, I want to say thank you to all of you in the Dutch government, the diplomatic corps, my colleagues in ASEAN, the private sector and civil society for your immense support and very warm friendship.      

By Roy Lie A Tjam. The launching of the China Cultural Week with the theme “Inheritance and Innovation—China Intangible Cultural Heritage” has been a tremendous success. It took place at the China Cultural Center in The Hague on Wednesday 21 June 2017. Mr. Chen Ribiao Minister Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy delivered the welcome address. Ambassadors and representatives from diplomatic missions along with other invitees attended the opening ceremony. For additional Roy Strik s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157686387042396

The program included a performance by Shenzhen Fangyin Chinese Music Troupe, in collaboration with Zhang Die, Director of Chinese Art Academy Europe, they staged a dazzling show portraying traditional Chinese musical instruments, such as Guzheng, Guqin, Xiao, and Pipa, with the fusion of some modern elements. Various cultural activities took  place in The Hague and Purmerend between 21 – 30 June 2017. Finally, guests toured the exhibitions of Chinese Gyotaku Art and Silk-road. The exhibition was open to the public.  

  By Roy Lie A Tjam. In a short space of time, the Thai Mission in the Netherlands has organized two road shows. The first leg was the Grand Thai Festival at the Plein in The Hague on 1 – 2 July 2017. Next was the Thai Night, Lost in Culture which took place in Amsterdam on 4 July 2017.

The performances at the Thai Grand Festival included. After the MC open reception of the 12th edition of the Thai Grand Festival the Thai Best Wishes Dance Group performed. They were followed by Thai Classical Music, Thai Customed Dance “Proud to Be Thai” Thai North-eastern Traditional Dance “Rum Serng” Art Performances in Remembrance of His Majesty King Rama IX, Thai Classical Music Performance. At about 14:00h H.E. Miss Pornprapai Ganjanarintr Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Kingdom of the Netherlands delivered her welcome speech and officially declared the 12th edition of the Thailand Grand Festival 2017 open. Scores of Thai bands and groups performed. Style Band was the last to perform. On Sunday 2 July, several other groups participated. There were booths offering Thai food, fashion, jewelry and traditional Thai massage. Thai music, and music from the southern- and northeastern region of Thailand. Ms. Natsupang Poshyananda, First Secretary at the Thai Embassy, introduced H.E. Miss Pornprapai Ganjanarintr, who warmly bid the Ambassadors and other guest welcome.

Ms. Natsupang Poshyananda, further made sure each element of the show was well explained, like performances of pieces such as Ram Farang Koo, a graceful dance originally meant for performance at the Royal Court. The piece has been adapted and (re)designed by Thailand experts of performing arts. Another remarkable piece was Phrae wa kalasin, a silk dance. Inspired by the internationally renowned and locally produced silk of the northeastern, in  Kalasin province. Stick dance, you will find stick dances in almost every part of the world. However, each with its own particularity. It has been a brilliant performance of Thai martial art. Fon on son Isan, portraying the uniqueness of the dance of the Isan people. Fast lively and rhythmic movements, Alleged to be a characteristic of the Thai northeastern region. An evening full of authentic Thai entertainment indeed.

By Roy Lie A Tjam. It was at the residence of the Ambassador of Japan, onTuesday 5 July, 2017. When “the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays” was confirmed on Mr. Jan Hendrik Odinot. Mr. Hiroshi Nomura welcomed the guests and subsequently invited H.E. Hiroshi Inomata, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of the Netherlands to deliver his address. Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata noted “I feel honored to host this conferment ceremony of the Japanese decoration “the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays” upon Mr. Odinot. This decoration is conferred in the name of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan on Mr. Odinot’s contribution for introducing Japanese culture and promoting understanding of Japan in the Netherlands through budō, Japanese martial arts. I would like to share some of the many highlights in his career that have led to this celebratory moment.” “After studying English and French, and about ten years in the banking world, Mr. Odinot made a life-changing decision. He decided to leave his job and dedicate himself to practicing and teaching jūdō, which he deemed more socially rewarding. I guess you could say that at this point a hobby turned into a true calling. As Mr. Odinot has expressed it himself: “It is worth it to fully dedicate oneself to studying”. Mr. Odinot taught jūdō, kendō, and self-defence to a variety of students; from children to adults, from prison personnel to the police officers. Mr. Jan Hendrik Odinot, for more than fifty years you have made invaluable efforts to advance budō in the Netherlands. The Government of Japan recognizes and is deeply grateful for your tremendous contribution to promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the Netherlands by means of budō. Now the time has come to honor you, Mr. Odinot, in the Name of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, with “the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold, and Silver.” Mr. Aad van de Wijngaart, vice-chairman of the Dutch Kendo Federation (NKR) also addressed Mr.Odinot, he praised Hein Odinot’s humanity. Mr. Hein Odinot commenced his acceptance speech by stating how nervous he was. He said, I have never had problems delivering a speech but today I do. Mr. Jan Hendrik Odinot expressed his heartfelt gratitude to His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and to all those who made it all happen. Mr. Hiroshi Nomura closed the ceremony.

Embassy of Japan in The Hague, conferral of the Order of the Rising Sun

By Roy Lie A Tjam. Embassy of Japan, The Hague11 July 2017, a solemn ceremony in connection with the conferral of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon upon Mr. Jacob van der Goot. For additional Roy Strik’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157683945793781  

Mr. Jacob van der Goot, a former Honorary Consul-General of Japan in Rotterdam had the Japanese Imperial Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon and Rosette, bestowed upon him. To this end, an official solemn ceremony was held at the residence of the Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Hiroshi Inomata on Tuesday 11 July 2017. Mr. Jacob van der Goot received the distinction as a token for his significant contributions in promoting friendly relations and economic exchanges between Japan and the Netherlands. Mr. Van der Goot is a co-chairman and board member of the prestigious Rotterdam Japan Club(RJC). The objective of the club is the cultivation of friendly relations between senior Japanese and Dutch businessmen mainly in the Rotterdam area by being open to the mutual cultures, and for the exchange of information.   RJC board member Mr. Jeroen Kamphuis lauded Jacob van der Goot for service rendered to the club over the years.   Also present, Mr. Willem Sodderland, founder of the Rotterdam Japan Club. He recounted the interesting history of the RJC and subsequently thanked Mr. Jacob van der Goot.

 

The Residentie Orkest directed by Nicholas Collon. By Roy Lie A Tjam. Festival Classique presents classical music in The Hague’s Grand Hotel Amrâth Kurhaus. It is a 10-day classical music festival. The performances are combinations of dance, theater, and classical music. The Business Circle of the Residentie Orkest gathered prior to the Festival Classique Movement concert. Commercial Director Maartje Broekhans warmly welcomed the Business Circle members.

For additional Roy Strik’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157683681869864

The Residentie Orkest directed by Nicholas Collon played works by Beethoven, Grieg, Tsjaikovski, and Stravinsky. The concert included a dazzling performance by soprano Kari Postma, saxophonist Ralf Hekkema, the Michael Barnaart van Bergen’s Mondrian Dress. The choreography was by Thom Stuart.

After the concert in the Kurzaal, members of the Business Circle gathered to take leave of Residentie orkest chairman Mr. Gert Jan Kramer who has demitted office. The launching of the 2017 edition of Festival Classique, could be described as fabulous.

H.E Ms. Haifa Aissami Madah, Ambassador of the Permanent Mission for Venezuela to the OPCW-ICC, during her speech.   H.E Ms. Haifa Aissami Madah, Ambassador of the Permanent Mission for Venezuela to the OPCW-ICC along with Mr. Alvaro Sanchez, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in The Hague,  celebrated their country’s 206 years of its Independence on 5 July 2017 at Kasteel De Wittenburg in Wassenaar, along with a great number of ambassadors and chief of missions, representatives from international organizations and hundreds of guests from the Venezuela diaspora to artists, Dutch business and official sector, NGOs and more.

For additional pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157686291540946   Both, Ambassador Aissami Madah and Mr Sanchez addressed the audience by highlighting Venezuela’s history and recent achievements. Find bellow their respective speeches. “It is a great honor for me to welcome you today as we commemorate the 206th anniversary of our independence as a Nation.” Said H.E.  Haifa Aissami Madah.

“As many of you know, I have the privilege of having arrived in this country in 2011 as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the kingdom of the Netherlands, and from that perspective to serve my country and contribute to the strengthening of bilateral relations between our countries, I have also had the privilege to meet many of you and work in the field of multilateral organizations that host this city as well. After 5 years of an intense bilateral and multilateral agenda in that role, I had to continue this wonderful work, but now with special emphasis on the multilateral sphere. In 2015 our government decided to establish a diplomatic delegation to attend to multilateral affairs, it is again my honor to lead the new Mission; this initiative of Venezuela is a clear sign of the importance that my country gives to the bilateral relations with this neighboring country and all the international organizations established in this city as well.

Many of you have heard about the “crisis” in Venezuela, in fact we are currently facing some problems as any other countries in our region. The Venezuelan crisis is created artificially by the blocking of production and distribution channels. Evidence for the existence of a so called “Economic Warfare” has been collected by numerous academics, and it has only one goal, to put its hands in our oil resources. The strategy to artificially create a situation where basic foodstuffs and medicines are in short supply is not new. The same happened around Latin America in the early seventies, where economic warfare was one of the many dirty methods used to oust the democratically elected governments. There is an international strategy. Their plan is to create the impression that chaos reigns in the country and then justify and bring an external intervention. With the overwhelming majority of the media in opposition hands, and with the enthusiastic support of the world corporate media, a huge campaign of intoxicating consequences with this aim has been waged daily.

In spite of all this, the Venezuelan Government is committed to overcome the present difficulties and to work hard to prevent the peace of its citizens. Dear colleagues; this morning his Excellency the Nuncio congratulated me for our National Day and asked me to speak to you today about hope, about the hope of the Venezuelan people. I promised him that he would do this and express our hope and confidence in the leadership of Pope Francisco to help us overcome these difficulties because we are convinced that through dialogue we can find a solution to our differences. And we firmly believe that we are the Venezuelans who have to preserve peace and we will do so.”

In his turn, Mr. Sanchez after welcoming his guests with cordial greetings went on to deliver his Independence Day remarks. He paused at Venezuela’s past, present and peek into the country’s future. Sanchez continued, “Today is a day of celebration for Venezuela. 206 years ago, in 1811, we formally gained our independence from Spain and drafted our first Constitution. Simon Bolivar was definitively the leader and the hero of the wars and political struggles that took place between 1811 and 1830. Throughout those years Bolivar resisted all sort of difficulties. Among them: attempts against his life, political plots, and betrayals, exile, lack of resources and many other conflicts. Nonetheless, Bolivar always kept his moral intact, fought bravely, maintained the unity of Venezuelans and secured our precious independence. Not only that, but Bolivar was also the Liberator of many other South American nations, as well as the architect of Latin American and Caribbean unity, a dream that still has to come true.

Today we proudly pay tribute to Simon Bolivar, for we are currently going through times in our history where values such as courage, independence, struggle against colonialism and Latin American unity are paramount. In addition to Bolivar, there is another brilliant Venezuelan hero that we would like to pay tribute to, and that is Francisco de Miranda, the mastermind, and genius behind our first Constitution of 1811 and our First Republic. Prior to 1811, Miranda took part in the wars for the independence of the United States and also in the French Revolution. In addition, Miranda traveled the world quite extensively. Of the many countries visited by Miranda, he came to the Netherlands in 1785. He visited Rotterdam, The Hague, Leyden, Haarlem, and Amsterdam. At the end of his Dutch tour, Miranda wrote that Holland impressed him as a “singular and most curious country”. Neither should we forget the important role played by the Dutch Caribbean islands, specially Bonaire, in offering assistance to Miranda and his soldiers prior to his landing on La Vela de Coro, in northern Venezuela, where he first hoisted our national flag and tried to liberate us from Spain in 1806. We therefore highly appreciate the historical and cultural links between Venezuela and the Netherlands. It is a bond built on years of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity. As a footnote, I would also like to mention that I recently learned that football was first introduced in Venezuela by Dutch oil workers from Shell in the early 20th Century. Venezuela and the Netherlands have been brotherly nations. It is no different now in the 21st Century than it was in the 19th and the 20th Century. Venezuela and the Netherlands share and extensive border coastline in the Caribbean Sea. However, more than that, we share values and visions. That’s why we cherish so much our relations with the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Tomorrow, our newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Moncada, will visit Curacao for bilateral meetings. This will be his first trip abroad, which is an indication of our appreciation to the Netherlands. Similar to that, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander also chose Venezuela to be his first Latin American destination when he visited us in 2013. In addition, but more recently, in April of this year, the Director of the Western Hemisphere Department, Mr. Marcel De Vink, also decided that his first ever trip to Latin America had to be Venezuela. Indeed, lately, both of our countries have been working very hard in order maintain high levels of cooperation, to facilitate trade, to enhance culture and education and also to guarantee a safe and peaceful environment free from drug and human trafficking, as well as free from some other forms of illegal activities. In fact, Venezuela and the Netherlands signed in 2013 a memorandum of understanding, which provides us with a framework to, among other things, engage in political dialogue and set up annual mixed commissions, the latest of which was successfully held in The Hague in May 2016.

Finally, in terms of our current situation in Venezuela, Ambassador Haifa El Aissami has already provided us with a very comprehensive and sufficiently explained overview. We are ultimately facing real threats against our democracy and our independence. However, just like Simon Bolivar and Francisco de Miranda, before us, we will keep our heads up and defend our sovereignty.”