The Philippine delegation, composed of Consul Joan Macrise and Cultural Attaché Eleanor Balanquit, was received at the Paços do Concelho. Also present were Sara Fonseca, Executive Director of the Terras sem Sombra Festival, and representatives of the Associação Pedra Angular. The delegation visited the CACI in Cano, where they appreciated the work of the municipality's users.
Between October 24th and 25th, Sousel hosted the second edition of the festival, with a program that blended music, heritage, history, and environmental sustainability. On Saturday, a guided tour of the ancient village of Cano took place, led by Dr. João Richau and Dr. José António Falcão, Director General of Terras sem Sombras. In the evening, the Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Graça hosted the concert “Sons que nos Circundam: Uma Leitura Coral da Natureza” (Sounds that Surround Us: A Coral Reading of Nature), by the Coro de Câmara de Lisboa, conducted by Teresita Gutiérrez Marques.
Sunday's program included a visit to Herdade do Mouchão, focusing on sustainability and agricultural tradition, and the preservation of natural resources. The Terras sem Sombra Festival is distinguished by its integration of classical music, cultural heritage safeguarding, and biodiversity valorization.
The Mayor, Manuel Valério, the President of the Municipal Assembly, Rosalina Teles, and Councillor António Dâmaso accompanied the initiative's events, reinforcing the Municipality's involvement in cultural promotion and the enhancement of the municipality's heritage and potential. The staging of this edition reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between institutions and cultural agents in territorial development.
