Philippine Embassy, rome commemorates 108^th anniversary of Philippine independence
with week-long series of events 

19 June 2006 — Philippine Ambassador to Rome, Italy Philippe J. Lhuillier reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Embassy has successfully commemorated the 108^th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence with a week-long series of events from 6 – 12 June 2006. 

Ambassador Lhuillier said that the Embassy’s commemorations opened on 6 June 2006 with an art exhibit at the Embassy’s Social Hall featuring the works of eight Filipino visual artists.  The exhibit, titled “Kulay ng Kalayaan (Colors of Freedom),” was presented in cooperation with the Kunst Batangas Metropolitan Gallery and featured the works of Rafael Cusi, Jorge Banawa, Aris Bagtas, Noel Catacutan, Giovanni de la Rosa, Konn Salao, Rene Robles, and Kris Soguilon. They were also joined by Ronnel Britania, curator of the European exhibit and Bill Perez, regional coordinator of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Rome was the third leg in the artists’ European tour, after Berlin and London. 

To formally open the exhibit, Ambassador Lhuillier hosted a reception attended by ASEAN Ambassadors and other diplomats, guests from the Italian government and the private sector, and heads of various organizations and businesses in the Filipino community. 

On 8 June 2006, Ambassador and Mme. Lhuillier hosted the traditional vin d’honneur at the Embassy, which was attended by officials from the Italian Foreign Ministry and other government agencies including former Agriculture Minister Gianni Alemanno, members of the diplomatic corps in Rome, representatives of various business, private and civic organizations and Filipino community leaders. 

On 11 June 2006, the Embassy joined the different Filipino communities from all over Italy in a grand celebration at the Olympia Hall of the Ergife Hotel.  The affair, billed as “Kalayaan 2006: Sayawan sa Barrio Fiesta,” started with a Holy Mass celebrated by Monsignor Ruperto Santos, rector of the Collegio Filipino, followed by a luncheon, then a programme featuring a cultural show, raffle draw, and special performances by Filipino talents based in Italy such as Armand Curameng and Gemma Cuneta, and Manila-based talents such as actor/singer Keempee de Leon and comedienne Pokwang. 

The Ambassador said that nearly 5,000 Filipinos from Rome, Florence, Perugia, Naples, Reggio Calabria, Sicily and other parts of Italy participated in the festivities, which also featured trade booths and tiendas selling Philippine products and promoting services for the Filipinos in Italy. 

At the same event, the Embassy also conducted a registration for Overseas Absentee Voting at a designated area of the Hall, where 21 Filipinos registered as overseas absentee voters. 

On 12 June 2006, the Embassy held the traditional flag-raising ceremony on the Embassy grounds followed by a simple breakfast.  END