25 June 2012 - As with other Filipino communities throughout the world, Filipinos in Chile joined their countrymen back home in celebrating the 114th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence.
Though modest by comparison to celebrations in other parts of the world having relatively large Filipino communities, its only activity - a fiesta celebration with the Filipino community - more than made up for it in fervor and enthusiasm.
The event was held at the Embassy on June 10, a Sunday. Over 150 members of the community and their families and friends were able to attend the occasion.
Also present were Ambassadors from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which maintain embassies in Chile, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
The ambassadors of Japan Korea, Peru and Ecuador, were likewise present.
Madame Angela Jeria, the mother and representative of the former president of Chile, and Michele Bachelet, a close friend of Philippine Ambassador to Chile Ma. Consuelo Puyat-Reyes, were also present. Ms. Ingeborg Gwinner Maurice, the Philippine Honorary Consul to Chile's Fifth Region, also attended the event.
What set this celebration apart from earlier ones was the relatively clear and sunny weather on this day with a pleasant, spring-like temperature of 12°C. In a departure from the previous years' practice where activities were held indoors on account of the winter cold, this year's event was held almost exclusively outdoors.
Ambassador Puyat-Reyes, assisted by Minister Paul Vincent Uy, led the flag-raising ceremony and the singing of the national anthem at the chancellery grounds. She then read President Benigno S. Aquino III's message to Filipinos. This was followed by a Thanksgiving Mass at the patio of the Embassy. Filipino priests Fr. Richard A. Aguinaldo, SVD and Fr. Ben Aleonar, SVD concelebrated the mass, with Sister Justine Abache and Mr. Eriberto C. Castillo providing the music for the liturgy.
In his homily, Fr. Aguinaldo spoke of the similarity between Philippine Independence Day and the Passover Meal commemorated in the gospel. Both occasions, he said, are significant as they denote hope and deliverance-a passage from a lower state to a higher state-for which all must be grateful. Fr. Aguinaldo also paid tribute to Ambassador Puyat-Reyes and the Embassy's staff for their unwavering support and care for the local Filipino community.
Towards the end of the mass, the Ambassador spoke briefly and acknowledged the presence of her diplomatic guests, the Philippine Honorary Consul in San Antonio, and recognized the attendance of the Filipino community, especially those from different parts of Chile who came to Santiago for the event. She cited attendees from as far north as Iquique and south as Puerto Montt in the Antarctica region.
Father Aleonar also took the occasion to bid goodbye to the community following his reassignment to Canada. He has been a missionary priest in Chile for over 30 years.
The Mass was followed by a buffet lunch featuring Filipino food. Served, among other traditional delicacies, were pancit bihon and canton, pork and chicken barbecue, beef caldereta, pritong lumpia, chopsuey, puto and dinuguan, steamed fish, guinataan and cassava cake.
Filipinos in Chile usually look forward to the Embassy's celebration because of the chance to enjoy authentic Filipino home-cooking and introduce this to their Chilean friends. The preparation of the food was headed by Embassy's Administrative Officer Thelma Castillo, who was ably assisted by Mr. Edgar Guinto, and Misses Winnie Simbahan, Gabriela Avilez and Rosita Llancamil.
As the Filipino group feasted at the Embassy's large patio and backyard lawn, Ambassador Puyat-Reyes hosted a formal luncheon for her special guests in the Embassy's dining room. To add to the festive atmosphere, Philippine rondalla music played in the background.
After a hearty lunch, people simply lounged in the patio and interacted with each other in an afternoon of fellowship. Others merely took the opportunity to bask in the sun, contentedly sitting among friends and new acquaintances, catching up on the latest news.