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-473-07                                                                                                                                                       21 June 2007

Philippine Embassy, Madrid celebrates Independence Day, 
5th Centennial of Birth of Urdaneta, ASEM Spanish-Philippine Initiative  

21 June 2007 — Philippine Ambassador to Spain Joseph D. Bernardo y Medina reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Embassy launched a series of activities beginning 9 June 2007 to celebrate Philippine Month and to commemorate the 109th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.  

On 9 June, the commemorations opened with a flag-raising ceremony at the Embassy grounds.  This was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument situated along the Avenida de Filipinas (formerly Avenida Islas Filipinas).  

Ambassador Bernardo was assisted by members of the Knights of Rizal – Madrid Chapter in the laying of the wreath.  The ceremony was witnessed by members of the Filipino community and Embassy officers and staff.  The wreath-laying was followed by a reading by distinguished members of the Knights of Rizal of José Rizal's “Mi Ultimo Adios.”  

The Embassy, in collaboration with the Filipino community, organized the day-long “Barrio Fiesta 2007” held at the Colegio San Agustin on 10 June 2007.  Over 75 booths laden with delicacies and handicraft items attracted not only thousands of Filipinos residing in Madrid and nearby cities, but also Spanish friends, relatives and the general public.  

The annual barrio fiesta coincided with the celebration of the 5th centennial of Fray Andres de Urdaneta's birth. The affair began with a concelebrated mass led by a grandson of the late historian and diplomat Antonio M. Molina, who had served in the Embassy for many years.  

On 15 June 2007, Ambassador and Mme. Bernardo hosted a reception at the Embassy for members of the diplomatic corps, participants in the ASEM Spanish-Philippine Initiative, Spanish officials and selected Filipino and Spanish guests.  The Philippines co-hosted with Spain the ASEM Initiative on Employment Workshops Related to Restoration of Cultural Heritage and the Environment.  The Philippine delegation was headed by Chairman Ambeth Ocampo of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).  END

/jay

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