The traveling exhibition, which showcases the Slovenian collection curated by theCelje Regional Museum(Pokrajinski muzej Celje) and the Philippine collection prepared by theNational Archives, was first presented to the Philippine public on 9 March 2026 at the National Library of the Philippines in Manila. ThePhilippine Normal Universityopening was highlighted by an interactive thematic panel discussion with students focusing on the role of travel in fostering intercultural dialogue.

Opening ceremony o the “Potovanje/Paglalakbay: Two Women Travellers in the 1920s: Alma Karlin of Slovenia and Paz Guazon of the Philippines” |Author Philippine Normal University

Panelists included theAmbassador of Slovenia to the Philippines, Dr. Smiljana Knez, Executive Director of the National Archives, Victorino M. Manalo and Maria Consunji Ferrer, granddaughter and formal custodian of Dr. Paz Guazon’s legacy.The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led byPNU President Dr. R. Tuga, NAP Executive Director Manalo and Ambassador Dr. Knez.

The exhibition honors two extraordinary women who traversed the globe in the 1920s, enriching their countries' literary heritages while advancing gender equality, female empowerment, and cross-cultural understanding:

Alma Karlin (1889–1951)was a celebrated Slovenian author, poet, polyglot and globetrotter from Celje, Slovenia. Karlin embarked on an epic, solo eight-year journey around the globe starting in 1919, supporting herself entirely through her writing and language lessons. Her travels brought her to Manila in 1924. According to historical records from the Celje Regional Museum, Karlin faced daunting challenges with the local colonial bureaucracy of the era, but found moments of peace, strength and reflection in Manila and nearby Antipolo.

Dr. Maria Paz Mendoza Guazon (1889–1967)was a pioneering Philippine physician - the first woman to earn a medical degree in the Philippines - as well as a dedicated researcher, educator and civic leader. Traveling through Europe and beyond to examine social and healthcare systems, she recorded her reflections in literary travel journals that offered vital insights into social reform and women’s rights.

The exhibition is hosted in the publicly accessible lobby of Philippine Normal University, housed within one of the few surviving historical buildings in Manila from the 1920s era when Alma Karlin herself visited the Philippines. The display will remain open to visitors and the public until end of August.