Philippines Pavilion harmoniously blends heritage and innovation
- BT
- Sep 10
- 2 min read
The Philippines Pavilion at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan is a celebration of Filipino craftsmanship, fostering global connections and promoting tourism, trade and cultural exchange at the world stage.
The Philippines Pavilion is located within the Empowering Lives zone, strategically positioned near the East Gate entrance. Themed ‘Nature, Culture & Community – Woven Together for a Better Future’, the Pavilion is a collaborative effort involving government, local communities and industry leaders, all united in a shared vision for a sustainable future.
The Pavilion draws inspiration from traditional Filipino weaving, which symbolises interconnection and resilience, and is evident from their unique façade. Constructed with over 1,000 rattan threads and featuring 212 handwoven panels, the Pavilion elevates traditional craftsmanship into an architectural scale, paying tribute to local artisans from communities across the Philippines and the country’s weaving heritage. Described as the largest ever collaboration of Filipino weavers for a single project, the Philippines Pavilion showcases not only indigenous sustainable materials like rattan and bamboo, but also the relevance of traditional craftsmanship in a contemporary context.
Inside, the Philippines Pavilion is a multi-sensory experience that harmoniously blends heritage and innovation, where visitors will be able to witness and experience the Filipino spirit like never before. The highlight of the Pavilion is undoubtedly the 18 stunning handwoven art pieces on display. Crafted over a period of 6 months, each art piece represents a region of the Philippines and offers a glimpse into the soul of the local community through synchronised light projections, sound and video.
The Pavilion then smoothly transitions into the interactive exhibitions, ‘Dancing with Nature’ and a couple of AI photobooths. In ‘Dancing with Nature’, visitors are digitally reimagined on screen as part of Philippines’ lush ecosystem. From dancing flowers and schools of fish, this exhibition is a metaphor of the connection between humanity and nature. Meanwhile, the AI-driven photobooth allows visitors to transform themselves into festival-inspired characters.
To further enrich visitors’ experience, performers from the Cultural Centre of the Philippines are performing up to 5 times daily, sharing traditional music, dance and stories with the rest of the world and ensuring that every visitor experience the warmth, rhythm and celebration that is unmistakably Filipino. Visitors can then finish their experience by checking out the Habi Gift Shop, where they can shop for artisanal crafts and souvenirs, sign up for a traditional healing massage and other wellness practices at the Hilot Wellness Space, or even savour Filipino flavours at the Hain Takeout Counter with dishes like adobong manok sa gata and halo-halo.
From its thoughtful design and emotional resonance to commitment to sustainability, the Philippines Pavilion is a living expression of the country’s stories and spirit. For more information, visit https://phworldexpo.tpb.gov.ph/
