15 June 2012 - The Philippine Embassy in Muscat, led by Ambassador Joselito A. Jimeno, observed the 114th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence on June 12, with a flag-raising ceremony, followed by the reading of the Independence Day messages of the President and the Secretaries of Foreign Affairs and Labor and Employment.
Embassy staff joined Philippine Overseas Labor Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO/OWWA) officials, leaders and constituents of various Filipino organizations in the early morning event capped by an authentic Filipino breakfast.
In his remarks, Ambassador Jimeno expressed his appreciation to the Filipino Community in Oman for doing their share in nation building through hard work and dedication.
He reminded everyone to find inspiration and stay motivated in standing up to what is righteous. He encouraged them to stay the course leading to an empowered nation.
The main event of the festivities, which also included Filipino film showings, was the inauguration of the Sentro Rizal cultural center and library - the first in the Middle East.
Sentro Rizal, created under the Philippine National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, is a center which aims to promote Philippine culture and heritage throughout the world by offering books, videos, films, magazines, art and tourism information on the Philippines. It is established in different countries where there are children of overseas Filipinos who need to be educated about their roots and Filipinos who wish to keep their connection with the Philippines.
Times of Oman, the biggest newspaper in the Sultanate of Oman, has also published a special supplement to mark the 114th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence. The supplement featured the Philippines as a tourism and health and wellness destination. END
