FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN UK CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE IN “BARRIO FIESTA” FASHION

Ambassador Espiritu (left) joins officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in London as they conduct consular outreach at the Philippine Barrio Fiesta in Morden Park in Surrey, southwest London on 23 and 24 June 2007.

29 June 2007 — Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Edgardo B. Espiritu reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that, even though more than a week had passed since the celebration of the 109^th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence, the Filipino community in the UK still continued to celebrate the event, this time in “barrio fiesta” style.  

The Kapatirang Sandigan ng mga Pilipino sa UK (KASAPI-UK), a registered charity organization that aims to promote Philippine cultural heritage in the UK while helping the less fortunate in the Philippines, held its 4^th annual Independence Day “Barrio Fiesta” on 24 and 25 June at Morden Park in Surrey, southwest London.  

Despite the heavy rain, Filipinos all over the UK trooped to Morden to have fun and to join in the celebration.  The two-day event, which was attended by around 50,000 to 60,000 people, featured both traditional and popular Philippine culture.  

Inside the park, around 80 stalls were put up for various companies and individual entrepreneurs selling cooked food, groceries, real estate, and garden furniture. Travel agents, remittance companies, cargo services, telephone companies, and various other services also put up their booths to sell their products.  Booths were also provided for ambulance services, fire brigade and the metropolitan police.  

Cultural shows featuring various London-based Filipino talents as well as artists from the Philippines such as Allan K, Sam Milby, and Sheryn Regis dominated the two-day event.  

On the second day, the celebration kicked off with a Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Salvador Telen of the Filipino Chaplaincy, Diocese of London, Church of England.  This was followed by a traditional santacruzan featuring a bevy of Filipino beauties wearing traditional Filipiniana dresses.  Speeches preceded the cultural presentation in the afternoon.  

Speaking to the Filipinos present in Morden, Ambassador Espiritu said, “This barrio fiesta is a special occasion to celebrate the birth of our nation and to thank God for the sacrifices and struggles that our forefathers went through.”  

He added, “This is one opportunity to be able to inspire and instill in the minds of young Filipinos that Filipinos value a happy family environment. I wish to see this reflected in our conduct towards others in this multicultural society we live in.”  

Acknowledging the role of overseas Filipinos in the economic growth of the country, Ambassador Espiritu appealed to the Filipino community to continue to be actively engaged in the affairs of the country by directly investing or helping promote investments in the Philippines .  

Councillor John Dehaney, Worshipful Mayor of Merton, also joined the Filipino community in their celebration. In his message, Councillor Dehaney congratulated KASAPI-UK for their hard work in organizing the event and their commitment to the promotion of Philippine cultural heritage in the UK .  He also lauded the organization for its efforts in promoting entrepreneurship among Filipinos in the UK , and partnership between and among members of the British multicultural society.  

The Philippine Embassy was provided with its own booth where consular services, including administering of oath to dual citizenship applicants, were conducted.  END

/jay

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