19 June 2012 - With this year's theme "Kalayaan: Pananagutan ng Bayan Para sa Tuwid Na Daan," Filipino communities across Belgium and Luxembourg organized programs to commemorate the 114th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence.
On June 9, the World Mission for Peace under the leadership of Ms. Consortia De Leon-Scholtz organized a Filipino fair which featured the 2nd "Binibining Pilipinas Kalayaan" in Torhout, Belgium.
Second Secretary and Consul Christina Rola, Trade Attaché Raymond Batac and Agricultural Attaché Jose Laquian led the Embassy team in the event.
On June 10, the Association of Pangasinense, under the Koalisyon Para sa Kalayaan (KPSK), led the celebration at the grounds of the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur in Koekelberg, Belgium. The KPSK, under the leadership of Mr. Rudy Nollas, is one of the major umbrella organizations in Brussels that hold Philippine Independence Day celebrations every year.
The program started with a Eucharistic Mass presided by Fr. Raymund Gaspar of the Filipino Chaplaincy Center at the Basilique. This was followed by the traditional parade led by Philippine Ambassador to Belgium Victoria S. Bataclan.
Members of Association of Pangasinense led by Mr. Nilo Gapasin carried together a large Philippine flag during the parade, while the members of the Knights of Rizal-Brussels Chapter carried the different types of Philippine revolutionary flags. The parade participants sang in unison the patriotic songs "Bayan Ko" and "Pilipinas Kong Mahal".
Ambassador Bataclan read President Benigno S. Aquino III's Independence Day message and delivered her own as well.
The Embassy sponsored an essay writing contest and an on-the-spot drawing competition, the latter exclusive for Filipino children, six to 10 years old. The event likewise featured cultural presentations, performances by Filipino live bands and artists, raffle draws and a Filipino fair.
On the same day in Luxembourg, the three major Filipino organizations there, namely, the Luxembourg-Philippines Action for Development (LPAD), the Philippines-Luxembourg Society (PLS), and the SAMAHAN ng Manggagawa sa Luxembourg, in cooperation with Philippine Honorary Consul General in Luxembourg Alain Kinsch, organized a get-together of Filipinos at the Sauerpark in Rosport. They conducted similar activities as those done in Brussels.
Minister and Consul General Roy Ecraela read the Independence Day messages of President Aquino and of Ambassador Bataclan.
On June 17, the Council of Filipino Associations in Flanders (COFAF), under the chairmanship of Ms. Minabelle Siason, had their celebration in Brugge. The highlight of the program was the formal hand-over of its donation for the "Classroom Galing sa Mamamayang Pilipino Abroad" to Ambassador Bataclan. This year's target beneficiary is the New Mabuhay Elementary School in General Santos City.