Lakbai Guitar Duo Showcases Filipino Sound in Dynamic Kenya Collaboration

The Lakbai Guitar Duo captivates the audience with soulful renditions of Filipino music.

NAIROBI, 16 June 2025 – The Lakbai Guitar Duo from the Philippines brought Filipino music to the spotlight during “Strings & Soul: Lakbai x Kenya Live,” a vibrant cultural night held on 13 June, organized by the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi in partnership with Geco Café.

The event celebrated the 127th Philippine National Day and the 50th anniversary of the Embassy’s establishment in Kenya.

The Lakbai Guitar Duo, composed of Jeffrey Malazo and Jenny de Vera, opened the night with expressive performances of traditional and contemporary Filipino pieces. Their classical skill and heartfelt delivery brought the spirit of the Philippines to the Nairobi stage.

They were later joined by The Jazztified, a well-known Kenyan jazz ensemble, celebrated for their improvisational style. Together, the two groups, each honoring their roots, gave a collaborative performance featuring two classic pieces: the Filipino folk dance “Cariñosa,” reinterpreted in a jazz style, and the African classic “Ami O” by Bébé Manga, with acoustic guitar accompaniment.

Guests enjoyed a powerful mix of Filipino, Kenyan, and African music that showed how culture connects people.

“This event was more than sharing music. It was about artists listening, adapting, and creating something new together,” said Philippine Ambassador to Kenya Marie Charlotte Tang.

The Lakbai Guitar Duo’s visit to Kenya was supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. END

Filipino and Kenyan musicians come together — jazz Cariñosa and Ami O with acoustic guitar.

A full house at Geco Café enjoys a vibrant evening of cross-cultural music.

Ambassador Tang poses for a photo with Lakbai Guitar Duo.

PH Embassy in Kenya Marks 127th Philippine Independence Day with Diplomatic Reception in Nairobi

Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang and Guest of Honor Ambassador Patrick S. Wamoto raise a toast to 127 years of Philippine independence.

NAIROBI, 13 June 2025 – The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi commemorated the 127th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence with a diplomatic reception held at the Nairobi Serena Hotel on 12 June 2025. The event served as a vibrant celebration of Filipino culture, history, and the enduring friendship between the Philippines, Kenya, and the broader international community.

The evening brought together guests from the Kenyan government, diplomatic corps, the UN Office at Nairobi, other international organizations, business sector, media, academe, and the Filipino community in Kenya.

In her keynote address, Philippine Ambassador to Kenya Marie Charlotte G. Tang paid tribute to the nation’s heroes and legacy as Asia’s first democratic republic. She highlighted the Philippines' robust economic growth and steadfast commitment to inclusive and sustainable development.

Ambassador Tang also highlighted that this year’s celebration holds special significance as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Philippine Embassy in Kenya. She cited the deepening bilateral relations, anchored on shared democratic values and commitment to peace, sustainability, multilateralism and the development priorities of the Global South. She cited key initiatives such as women empowerment in Turkana, cultural exchanges, the upcoming visit to Kenya of actors Coco Martin and Julia Montes, and the forthcoming 2nd Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation. She also reaffirmed the Philippines’ strong commitment to multilateral diplomacy.

Foreign Service Academy Director General Ambassador Patrick S. Wamoto, Guest of Honor representing the Kenyan government, expressed Kenya’s appreciation for the growing relationship with the Philippines. He highlighted opportunities for further collaboration, particularly in education, trade, agriculture, and people-to-people exchanges.

A moving performance by the Daystar University Choir of both the Philippine and Kenyan national anthems opened the evening, setting the tone for a celebration steeped in unity and mutual respect.

Supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the DFA-Office of Cultural Diplomacy, the Lakbai Guitar Duo captivated attendees with a blend of classical and contemporary Filipino music, showcasing the Philippines’ rich musical heritage.

Adding a personal touch, Embassy member Rossette Estrella delivered heartfelt renditions of the beloved Filipino song Paraiso and the lively classic Sumayaw, Sumunod, infusing the event with messages of joy, unity, and hope.

Guests were treated to an array of traditional Filipino dishes, including chicken adobo, pansit, lumpiang shanghai, ukoy, and turon, offering a true taste of the Philippines’ culinary heritage. Exciting raffle prizes, including a roundtrip ticket to Manila courtesy of Emirates, luxury staycations, and dining vouchers, added to the festive spirit.

The celebration highlighted the Philippines' enduring commitment to international friendship, cultural exchange, and diplomacy, especially with its partners across the African continent. END.

Ambassador Tang delivers her keynote address, highlighting the Philippines’ legacy of freedom and growing ties with Kenya.

Guest of Honor Ambassador Patrick S. Wamoto expresses appreciation for the deepening friendship between Kenya and the Philippines.

Ambassador Tang with Director-General Zainab Hawa Bangura of the UN Office at Nairobi (UNON), one of the four major UN headquarters worldwide.

The Philippine Embassy team poses for a group photo.

The Daystar University Choir opens the celebration with stirring renditions of the Philippine and Kenyan national anthems.

The Lakbai Guitar Duo captivates the audience with a vibrant showcase of Filipino musical heritage.

Members of the Filipino community and African friends in joyful dance, accompanied by the Lakbai Guitar Duo and Embassy member Rossette Estrella.

The Ambassador of Poland, H.E. Mr. Miroslaw Gojdź, winning a luxury staycation package.

Vice-Chancellor Vincent Ogutu of Strathmore University celebrates winning a roundtrip ticket to Manila, courtesy of Emirates.

Philippine Mayor Champions SDG Localization at the UN-Habitat Forum in Nairobi

Nairobi, 30 MAY 2025 - Surigao City Mayor Pablo Yves L. Dumlao II presented his city’s pioneering efforts in localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the high-level forum on “Multilevel Governance for SDG Localization”,  held on  28 May 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in Nairobi.

The event, jointly organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, took place on the sidelines of the resumed second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly (UNHA-2.2). 

In his address, Mayor Dumlao emphasized Surigao City’s strong commitment to advancing the SDGs– the global agenda to end poverty, protect the planet, and promote peace and prosperity– by integrating them into local planning and development efforts.  He highlighted the city’s Voluntary Local Review (VLR) initiative, developed in collaboration with the UN Habitat, which tracks and assesses local progress on the SDGs.

Surigao City is one of only four Philippine cities to have completed a VLR, and the first on the island of Mindanao, he said.   The mayor shared that the city has localized the SDGs down to the household level, empowering families to monitor their own progress and actively contribute to broader community goals. “The SDGs will be won or lost at the local level—starting with families,” he said.

Mayor Dumlao also noted ongoing programs in housing and resilient settlements, including initiatives for indigenous communities such as the Sama Bajau.  He added that Surigao’s Regional Development Council had passed a resolution encouraging other local government units (LGUs) in the region to adopt similar approaches to sustainable and inclusive development. 

“Surigao City’s participation in the forum highlights the Philippines’ continuing commitment to strengthening multilevel governance and advancing the global SDGs through local action,” said Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, Philippine Ambassador to Kenya and Permanent Representative to UN Habitat. END