18 June 2012- A series of activities marked the Philippine Embassy in Athens' celebration of the 114th anniversary of Philippine Independence, including a parade, barrio fiesta-type Filipino community event, flag-raising ceremony, diplomatic reception and an exhibit of modern Philippine furniture and home décor.
The Embassy and the Filipino community in Greece kicked off the celebration on June 10 at the Zappeion grounds in Athens with an Independence Day parade led by Philippine Ambassador to Greece Meynardo LB. Montealegre and the Embassy staff.
The event was participated by 34 various Filipino community associations dressed in their best Filipiniana attire. This was followed by a whole-day barrio fiesta, Philippine traditional games, talent show and a raffle.
Filipino schools and associations also regaled the audience with cultural presentations such as the Maranaw Fan Dance, Bontoc War Dance, La Jota Moncadeña, Bulakalakan, Maglalatik, and the singing of patriotic songs such as Pilipinas kong Mahal.
Some 54 booths selling Filipino products and dishes and refreshments, such as barbecue, dinuguan, pancit, lumpia, various kakanin, sago't gulaman and halo-halo, were big hits with all who attended the event.
The Embassy seized the opportunity to conduct field overseas absentee voting (OAV) registration at its booth, with 25 Filipinos who registered as overseas absentee voters.
Overseas Welfare Workers Administration (OWWA) and the Pag-IBIG Fund also had booths providing services to the Filipino community.
Over a thousand Filipinos are estimated to have participated in the event.
On June 12, a simple flag-raising ceremony was held at the Embassy grounds.
Ambassador Montealegre led the Embassy officers, staff and dependents in singing Lupang Hinirang and pledged allegiance to the Philippine flag with the recitation of the Panunumpa sa Watawat.
On the evening of June 12, more than 250 guests from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies, the diplomatic corps, Greek shipping companies and manning agencies, the academe, arts and culture enthusiasts, civic organizations, and the Filipino community leaders in Greece attended the diplomatic reception at the Athens Ledra Marriott Hotel.
In his speech, the Ambassador recalled the heroic sacrifices that our forefathers made in order to attain the freedom and independence that Filipinos presently enjoy.
In keeping with the theme, he reiterated the President's call for all Filipinos to take responsibility in ensuring that the nation takes the straight and narrow path to achieve its aspirations.
He honored the achievements of Filipinos living and working in Greece, especially the fact that they are recognized and respected by Greeks for their competence, dedication and genuine care and concern for their work.
He announced the good news regarding the Philippine economy's robust performance, improved credit ratings, and its attainment of creditor status with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after decades of being a user of IMF resources.
He also cited the deepening relations between the Philippines and Greece and his hope for strengthened cooperation in the economic, tourism, cultural, educational and maritime sectors.
The guests also enjoyed sampling different Filipino dishes such as longganiza, embutido, spring rolls, puto bumbong, "buchi" and puto.
The guests were very much impressed with the exhibit of Philippine furniture and home décor that the Embassy set up as a living room showcase at the hotel foyer.
The exhibit blended antique and modern pieces from indigenous material that gave the guests an idea of what a contemporary Filipino sala looks like.
Among the showpieces admired by the guests were a bench made of antique Molave wood in modern Philippine design, a modern Filipino sofa set made from wood strips and fitted resin, antique wooden chair, side table, chest (baul), and vase, stool made of banig, and wood strip-made coffee table with Philippine map.
Unique pieces included a tara-pitse Molave wood stand used as sugar cane crusher in olden times and a round antique wheel made of balayong Philippine hardwood used for calesas. These were accented with décor made from coconut shell, mother of pearl, nautilus, abalone and Capiz shells. END