20 July 2010 - The Philippine Consulate General in Milan reported on the activities it organized to celebrate the 112th Anniversary of Philippine Independence.
Regional and city officials, notably Regional Council Dr. Enrico Marcora and Tassarolo councilor Ernie Cortez, were present at the reception.
Other guests included former Philippine Consul General in Milan Milagros Perez, PAG-IBIG and Development Bank of the Philippine officials who were on official visit in Milan, and leaders of Filipino community associations including the Bongabong Association, the Mindoro Tamaraw Associaction, the Association of Filipino Nurses in Milan, and the Filipino Business Club of Milan.
During the reception, the Vice President cut an Independence Day commemorative cake.
On June 6, the main event of the celebration of the 112th Philippine Independence Day Anniversary was held at the open field of Centro Sportivo Ripamonti in Via Iseo in Milan with a barrio fiesta-style celebration attended by around 3,000 Filipinos.
The long queue of Filipino community and business organizations joining the parade were greeted and welcomed by no less than the Vice President.
Together with the Vice President were Philippine Ambassador to Italy Romeo Manalo, Housing and Urban Devleopment Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Undersecretary Lucille Ortile, PAGIBIG Deputy Chief Executive Officer Tess Gonzales, Consul General Antonio Morales and Vice-Consul Mary Luck Hicarte.
Consul General Morales began the speeches by congratulating the Filipino people on their 112th year of Independence and by commending Filipinos in Northern Italy for their resilience, hard work and invaluable contribution to the economy.
Milan Councilor for Family, Education and Culture Mariolina Moioli conveyed the congratulatory message of Milan Mayor Letizia Moratti.
The day was made extra-special by the speech of Ambassador Manalo, as he warmly recalled his days as a Consul General in Milan and outlined his six-point plan of action for Philippine foreign service posts in Italy.
For his part, the Vice President endeared the crowd in his speech as he uttered phrases in the Italian language and discussed the reason for his visit -- to be one with the Filipino communities in Italy in commemorating this important occasion in the nation's history.
He also encouraged Filipinos to avail of the benefits of PAG-IBIG membership, and proceeded to open the PAG-IBIG Housing Fair which was participated in by over 10 real estate developers from Manila.
Traditional as well as modern Filipino song and dance numbers rendered by the members of the Filipino community from different parts of Milan and Northern Italy followed the speeches.
Capping the fun-filled event was a celebrity show sponsored by The Filipino Channel (TFC), featuring singer Randy Santiago and matinee actor Jake Cuenca.
Around 70 gazebos were set up by Filipino associations and businessmen in Milan to promote and display their services and products to the thousands of visitors who attended the celebration.
Prizes were awarded to organizations with the highest number of contingent, the best costume and the most beautifully-decorated booth.
Free roundtrip airline tickets and other valuable prizes were also raffled off to lucky attendees during the day.
On the morning of June 12, a Thanksgiving Mass ("Misa ng Pasasalamat") was held at Parrocchia Immacolata Concezione in Piazza Frattini in Milan.
The main celebrant of the Mass was Father Enrico Crisostomo of San Tomaso Parish Church. Joining him as concelebrants were Fr. Rodolfo Maramba of Parrocchia Immacolata Concezione, Fr. Woody Loquinario of St. Rita Church, and Fr. Emil Santos, S.D.B. of the Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore.
The Mass was followed by a solemn flag-raising ceremony at the parish grounds followed by a short personal message to the audience by Consul General Morales and the reading the Independence Day message of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Consul Gerardo Abiog and Labor Attache Annabella Oliveros read the messages of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo and Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito Roque, respectively.
A simple Filipino breakfast of eggs, tapa, longganisa and sinangag was served to the public after the ceremony.
Over a hundred guests, composed of members of the Filipino community, joined the solemn event. END