DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-508-06                                                                                                                                                                                                                             21 June 2006

 FILIPINOS IN CHILE GATHER TO CELEBRATE 108th ANNIVERSARY OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE  

21 June 2006-- The Philippine Embassy in Santiago, Chile reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Embassy celebrated the 108th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence through a Filipino community gathering on 11 June 2006 at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Las Condes and a formal reception on 16 June 2006 at the Mariott Hotel in Santiago. 

Ambassador Maria Consuelo Puyat-Reyes said that this year’s Independence Day celebration was an opportunity for Filipinos in Chile to gather and take part in various activities prepared by the Embassy.  

The gathering on 11 June 2006 started with a mass officiated by Filipino priest, Fr. Mauro Bolante, followed by a lunch buffet with members of the community contributing their special native dishes to the potluck affair.  This was followed by games for the children, as well as karaoke singing. 

The formal reception on 16 June 2006, with the ballroom of the hotel beautifully adorned with flowers and bonsai plants, displayed video snapshots of Philippine scenes on a giant screen, while a string quartet performed background music onstage.  Ambassador Puyat-Reyes noted that the event was an opportunity to promote Philippine tourism and culture to the Chileans and other guests. 

The reception was  attended by approximately 200 guests including members of the diplomatic corps, Chilean government officials, friends from the business sector, media, academe, as well as representatives from the Filipino community.  Among the notable guests were Senator Hernan Larrain and Enrique Tapia, President of the Supreme Court of Chile.   

Also making a special appearance were several delegates of the recent Miss Earth Chile beauty pageant, including Miss Earth Chile 2005, Nataly Chilet, and the Miss Earth 2005 winner, Alexandra Braun, from Venezuela.  The beauty titlists were impeccably dressed in Filipiniana attire, whose gowns were donated by the Fashion and Design Council of the Philippines headed by Mr. Jojie Lloren. END

/jay