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-466-07                                                                                                                                                           20 June 2007

FILIPINOS CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY IN OXFORD , UK  

20 June 2007 — Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Edgardo B. Espiritu reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Embassy representatives joined members of the Filipino community in Oxford on 16 June 2007 to celebrate the 109th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.  

The whole-day celebration, organized by FilCom Oxford headed by Chairman Jose Ariel Lanada, started with a muse and flower parade from Bury Knowle Park to the Tingewick Hall of John Radcliffe Hospital. This was followed by a Mass with Rev. Fr. David Hartley as main celebrant and Filipino priests Fr. Sergio Magbanua of London , Fr. Edgar Dizon, and US Air Force Chaplain Fr. Ricardito Salditos from nearby RAF Croughton Air Base, together with five other priests, were co-celebrants.  

After the community lunch, a cultural program followed at Tingewick Hall.    

Mr. Andrew Smith, MP for Oxford East (Labour), and Councillor John Tanner, Lord Mayor of Oxford , graced the event.  In their speeches, Mr. Smith and Mr. Tanner cited the positive contribution of the Filipino community in Oxford and highlighted the multi-cultural condition of the city and its warm reception of immigrants.  Mr. Tanner also mentioned that he had the opportunity to travel to Manila for a one-day business visit.  The presence of these two high officials confirms the importance of Filipinos in the Oxford community.  

The Embassy was represented at the affair by First Secretary Francisco Noel Fernandez, Second Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro, and Cultural Attaché Linda Guzman.  

In his remarks, Fernandez acknowledged the important contribution of overseas Filipinos to the economic well-being of the Philippines , and congratulated the officers and staff of FilCom Oxford for the successful celebration.  

Folk dances, songs, and an interpretative dance were performed during the cultural program before it ended with the performance of popular rock and pop songs by talented band members from the Filipino community.  END

/jay

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