23 November 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in Stockholm reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that a Philippine Cultural Day on 12 November 2005 in Granna, Sweden spiced up this peppermint rock town as it showcased trade and tourism exhibit and a cultural night.

The event was arranged by a newly-organized 60-member Jonkoping branch of the Philippine-Swedish Association. Philippine costumes, handicrafts from different regions, and native foods and delicacies were displayed at the Ribbagarden, a hotel owned by a Filipina and well-known as Greta Garbo's hide-away.  Posters of breath-taking Philippine sceneries were also put on view while tourism brochures were distributed to the guests. Original Pilipino Music (0PM) enhanced the Filipino atmosphere of the festivity.

Just before the big event where she was guest of honor, Ambassador Victoria S. Bataclan conducted a meeting with the new officers and members of the association. She encouraged them to register for the Overseas Absentee Voting, to apply for a Dual Citizenship and to actively participate in the Pulong ng Bayan, an annual conference of Filipino communities in the Nordic region. The proposed activities for the 50th anniversary of the Philippine-Sweden bilateral relations were also discussed during the meeting.

The town of Granna was founded in 1632 by Count Per Brahe. The Brahe family's profound influence on local history is evident even today and the count's era still lives in vivid memory. The town has its narrow side streets, small Swedish wooden houses and flowery gardens at the foot of the Granna Mountain, with Lake Vattern and Visingso displayed in the sunblazed background. The summer town is most famous for their very special Granna pear, which has been a heritage from the count's era, peppermint rock bakeries and as Scandinavia's center for hot air balloons. END
 
 

/bjg