Cultural Threads

Still reverberating on the world stage, the profound messaging of the Philippine Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka continues to unfold anew—and soon, it shall do so, even further, within the nation's heart

- Mac Fabella

At Expo 2025 Osaka, the magnificent pavilions of 165 participating countries stand as bastions of national and cultural pride. An estimated 28.2 million visitors are expected to visit the artificial Yumeshima Island over the Expo's six-month run, seizing the chance to witness these thematic architectural marvels until the end of October. A true collaborative feat, the Philippine Pavilion has since drawn hundreds of thousands of visitors, from all corners of the globe, to a deeply layered and sensorially stimulating exploration of the Filipino narrative.

“The Philippine Pavilion is our invitation for the world to connect with the heart and soul of the Filipino people and to discover the many reasons to love the Philippines,” added Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco. “We hope to inspire travellers to explore our 7,641 islands, experience the depth of our culture, marvel at the excellence of Filipino creativity and be moved by the stories of triumph and resilience of our communities.” Built around the theme “Nature, Culture, and Community: Woven Together for a Better Future”, the Pavilion responds to the Expo's call to design future societies by placing heritage and humanity at the heart of progress. It is the proud, diligent handiwork of multiple moving parts—the vision of the Philippine Organizing Committee (POC), led by the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), and that of the commissioned design team of Carlo Calma Consultancy, Inc as lead architectural firm and designer, Chochay Garcia as producer and creative director, architect Yuki Kanou as executive architect and lead project manager and Tellart as guest experience designer.

They also partnered with renowned artists and cultural champions, like Kenneth Cobonpue and Francis Dravigny, who worked closely with over 200 weavers and artisans from across the country.