18 June 2012 - The Philippine Consulate General in Agana, in cooperation with the Guam Reef Hotel, held a flag-raising ceremony in celebration of the 114th proclamation of Philippine Independence at the front loop area of the hotel on June 12.
Ms. Shirley Trinidad led the singing of the Philippine National Anthem while Consul Edgar Tomas Auxilian led the Panunumpa sa Watawat.
Guam Reef Hotel General Manager Eiichi Koyama welcomed the members of the Consular Corps, members of the 31st Guam Legislature, other officials of the Government of Guam, the officers and staff of the Consulate, and the officers and members of the Filipino Community of Guam and other Filipino-American organizations. He also welcomed Mr. Efren Belarmino, General Manager of the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Mactan Island, Cebu. Plantation Bay Resort is Guam Reef Hotel's partner in its annual Filipino Food Festival.
Consul General Bayani V. Mangibin delivered his Independence Day message, also thanking Guam Reef Hotel for its continued support for the activities of the Consulate and for its promotion of Filipino cuisine through its annual Filipino Food Festival.
Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo also graced the event and briefly gave her Independence Day greeting to the community, emphasizing that the Philippines is a strong ally of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region.
Ms. Leah Beth Naholowaa, president of the Filipino Community of Guam, closed the ceremony by thanking the members of the community for coming out to support the activity.
The ceremony was followed by a traditional Filipino breakfast at the Guam Reef Hotel's Alize Restaurant. Food served included arroz caldo (rice porridge), tapa and sinangag (garlic fried rice), fried danggit (fried dried fish), tinapadaing na bangus (fried milkfish) and champorado (chocolate rice porridge). These were prepared by chefs from the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa. (smoked fish),
In the evening, Consul General Mangibin and his wife, Mme. Carmen E. Mangibin, hosted a vin d'honneur at the Somnak Ballroom of the Westin Resort Guam.
The event was attended by Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Acting Governor Raymond S. Tenorio, members of the Consular Corps, Speaker Judith Won Pat and other Senators from the 31st Guam Legislature, Chief Justice Philip Carbullido and Guam Superior Court Presiding Judge Alberto Lamorena III, Attorney General Leonardo Rapadas, other officials of the Government of Guam, Filipino Community of Guam President Leah Beth Naholowaa, presidents of other Filipino and Filipino-American associations, and the island's business leaders.
The highlight of the event was the ceremonial toast to celebrate the friendship and strong ties between the Philippines, the United States and the Island of Guam, led by Consul General Mangibin and was responded to by Acting Governor Tenorio.
Congresswoman Bordallo joined Consul General Mangibin and Acting Governor Tenorio in the ceremonial cutting of the cake, which ended the formal part of the program.
Filipino composer Vehnee Saturno and his wife, Asia's Voice grand prize winner Ladine Roxas, also provided entertainment by singing a number of original Filipino songs to the delight of all the attendees. END