The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC), ably represented by its Director General, Prof. Dr. Suresh Kumar Dhameja, and Research, Publications, and Information Division (RPID) Officer, Ms. Arlene Raymundo-Monge, recently participated in the opening ceremony of the Words in Flames, a photo exhibition hosted by the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) last September 15, 2025. The event was organized by the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of the Philippines.
(From L-R): Prof. Dr. Suresh Kumar Dhameja, CPSC Director General; H.E. Yuliia Fediv, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Philippines; Ms. Maricel Ureña, Chief of the Research and Publications Division, National Library of the Philippines; and Ms. Arlene Raymundo-Monge, CPSC RPID Officer
The exhibition showcases the photos of Ukrainian libraries which bear witness to the violent acts of crime with the ongoing war in their region. To date, 214 libraries have been destroyed, 904 damaged, 561 have lost all their equipment, and 492 are left without any book collections.
Ms. Maricel Ureña, Chief of the Research and Publications Division, National Library of the Philippines, reads the opening message of the Director on his behalf
Ms. Maricel Ureña, Chief of the Research and Publications Division of NLP, formally opened the program by delivering the message of the Director on his behalf. In her reading, she underscored the role of libraries as sanctuaries of knowledge and memory as institutions that safeguard not only books but also the very identity of a people. She conveyed the National Library’s solidarity with Ukraine in its struggle to protect these cultural beacons, affirming that libraries, though vulnerable to destruction, remain unyielding symbols of hope, learning, and community resilience.
H.E. Yuliia Fediv, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Philippines, renders her welcome remarks
Meanwhile, Her Excellency Yuliia Fediv, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Philippines, delivered a moving welcome remark that illuminated the struggles and the fortitude of the Ukrainian people even in times of conflict. In her message, H.E. Fediv underscored the commitment of Ukraine in keeping their history and culture alive and burning through these photos that speak of the quiet resilience and innermost strength of her people. Her words served as a reminder that when libraries burn, it is not only buildings that are lost but also the shared stories and voices of generations.
In standing alongside Ukraine, CPSC reaffirms its belief in the power of education, culture, and memory to transcend violence, and its hope for a future built not on conflict but on peace.
The exhibition will run from September 15- October 15, 2025.
