FOREIGN SERVICE POSTS’ CELEBRATION

June 12^th Here and Abroad

The 105^th anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence was celebrated in fitting ceremonies here and abroad. Representing Secretary and Madame Blas F Ople who were in Geneva for the ILO meeting, Undersecretary and Madame Franklin Ebdalin led Department of Foreign Affairs Officials and the Diplomatic Corps at the reception tendered by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the presidential yacht Ang Pangulo which was berthed at the Southcom Base, Zamboanga. In the Home Office, Assistant Secretary Cora Belmonte-Jover led the DFA officials and staff at the June 12^th flag-raising ceremony.

In her remarks, the President welcomed guests and invited them to see the government’s successful inroads at revitalizing Mindanao. She also said that peace and security are the essential ingredients to economic progress, but that she could not encourage "peace talks piecemeal." Responding as the Acting Dean of the diplomatic corps, Venezuela Ambassador Millena Santana Ramirez invited everyone and the diplomatic corps to raise their glasses to the health of the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the continued prosperity of the Philippines. She also underscored two historical footnotes – the novelty of out-of-Manila Independence Day celebrations and the fact that it was former President Diosdado Macapagal who returned Philippine Independence day celebrations to its rightful date, the 12^th of June 1898. Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat and Congressman Celso Lobregat hosted lunch for the guests and a tour of Zamboanga City and the museum.

Abroad, Philippine foreign service posts held traditional activities such as flag raising, reading of messages, mass, reception/vin d’honneur. Some held parades, barrio-fiesta, community get-together, sports fests and open-houses.

Some celebrations were graced by high-ranking officials. Secretary of Foreign Affairs Blas Ople was guest of honor in Berne; Senator and Congresswoman Manuel Villar were in Budapest and Prague; Senator Robert Jaworski led the wreath-laying in Guam and Secretary Richard Gordon was in Tokyo. For Mexico, the traditional reception was a double-event as it also celebrated the 50^th Anniversary of RP-Mexico diplomatic relations with issue of commemorative stamps.

June 12 also provided a good opportunity to promote Philippine culture and economic diplomacy. Doha held a "Filipiniana" piano recital of Dr. Raul Sunico; Berne highlighted the celebration with the launching of a Commemorative Book on the 150 years of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Switzerland. Tokyo, Jakarta and Honolulu had special Philippine supplements in major dailies. Berlin held a seminar on Investment and Tourism Prospects, Ottawa inducted the officers of the Philippine-Canada Business Council.

The event was used by most to further enhance embassy-Filipino community relations. Saipan PCG opened the Filipino Community Center, Budapest used the day to meet the community on the Overseas Absentee Voting Act. Our posts in China however had to scale-down their celebration and interactions because of the SARS scare. A thumbnail sketch of the rich pageantry of the celebrations initiated by our Chiefs of Missions, Principal Officers and OICs abroad is shown in the matrix below:

POST

Photos
(click on the link below)

Flag Cere-
mony/
Reading of Msgs.

Mass

Parade

Cul-
tural/ Fashion Show

Ball

Dipl. Recep
tion

Art / Photo Exhi
bit

Breakfast/
Lunch

Food Festi
val

Sports/ Games

Picnic/ Barrio Fiesta

OTHER ACTIVITIES/
REMARKS

Abu Dhabi

Family Fun Day

Abuja

Chorus performances

Ankara

Athens

Baghdad

Beijing

Post did not host diplomatic reception due to SARS containment and prevention measures.

Beirut

Raffle; TV and radio coverage of Santacruzan and Ati-Atihan presentation for the first time in Lebanon

Berlin

Seminar on the OAV, Investment and Tourism Prospects; Barrio Fiesta; Bazaar and Santacruzan

Berne

Presentation of a video film ‘Visit Philippines 2003’; Launching of a Commemorative Book on the 150 years of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Switzerland

Brunei

Filipino Community Get-Together; Beauty pageants. The Minister of Health and his wife were Guests of Honor. Independence Day messages of PGMA and SFA were published in Borneo Bulletin.

Brussels

Open house; games; raffle draw; floral offering

Budapest

Meeting with Filipino community on the Overseas Absentee Voting Act

Buenos Aires

Wreath-laying at bust of Dr. Jose Rizal in Paseo de Filipinas. Among the VIPs were Senator Mabel Muller, chairperson of the Asia-Pacific Friendship Group of the legislature and Mr. Enrique Pescarmona, president of Industrias Metalurgicas Pescarmona S.A. (IMPSA).

Cairo

Filipino Community Day

Canberra

Caracas

Traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Pantheon (tomb of Simon Bolivar)

Dhaka

Filipino Community Get-Together; parlor games; raffle draws

Doha

click here for pics

New York-based Filipino pianist Ms. Adolovni Acosta piano recital ‘Filipiniana’. The Peninsula came up with a National Day Magazine Supplement featuring messages of PGMA, SFA, DOLE Secretary, DTI Secretary and the OWWA Administrator; and write-ups on the Embassy’s Independence Day celebrations.

Guam

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Airing of the Independence Message of the Consul General on television KGTF Channel 12; wreath-laying at the Mabini Shrine in Asan. Governor of Guam proclaimed June 8 to 14 as "Philippine Independence Week" and "June 12, 2003 as the 105^th Philippine Independence Day Celebrations".

Guangzhou

Awarding of trophies

Hanoi

Awarding of plaque of merit and trophies. Vietnamese Foreign Minister as Guest of Honor

Holy See

Hong Kong

On-the-spot painting and essay writing contests; relaunch of Clean Hong Kong Campaign; presentation of Bagong Bayani; wreath-laying ceremony; Team-Building Exercise

Honolulu

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Presentation of the 2002 Presidential Pamana ng Pilipino Award to former Hawaii State Governor Benjamin Cayetano, the first Hawaii governor of Filipino ancestry. Lt. Governor James "Duke" Alona delivered a brief remark and toast to Philippine-Hawaii relations.

Islamabad

Merienda sena

Jakarta

Foreign Minister Noor Hassan Wirajuda and Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Jusuf Kalla were Guests of Honor. The Jakarta Post full page color supplement featuring messages of PGMA, SFA and the Ambassador; and overview of Philippine-Indonesia bilateral relations as well as facts and figures about the Philippines.

Koror

Kuwait

London

Manado

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Wreathlaying at Dr. Jose Rizal Monument, 19 June 2003. Reception was graced by Governor Adolf Sondakh.

Manama

Blood donation for International Hospital of Bahrain

Mexico

Reception was a double event – RP’s Independence Day and to Commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of RP-Mexico Diplomatic relations

Milan

Moscow

Nairobi

Awarding of Ambassador’s trophies to two Outstanding Filipinos of Kenya; launch of The Philippine Eagle, Embassy’s quarterly publication

New Delhi

Osaka

Family day

Ottawa

Awarding of plaque of appreciation; induction of the Philippines-Canada Business Council

Phnom Penh

Out-of-Town activity for the Filipino Community after 36^th AMM

Prague

Concert of Filipino artists

Saipan

Opening of the Filipino Community Center

San Francisco

Fil-Am Community organized various events for the whole month of June.

Santiago

Former President of Chile, now Senator Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle and Minister Michelle Bachelet Jeria, the first woman Minister of Defense of Latin America were among Chilean dignitaries.

Seoul

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Presence of Vice-Minister of the Ministry of National Defense Hon. Yoo Boo Sun.

Singapore

Walk for a cause (Alay Lakad) fund raising for SARS healthcare workers and victims & "Fiesta sa Bayanihan"; trade and tourism promo; grand raffle draws

Stockholm

Television show featuring Philippine dishes; Launching of Embassy’s website: www.philembassy.se

Tel Aviv

Singing contest; raffle. Presence of Minister of Science Mr. Eliezar Sandberg

The Hague

Piano recital and Night Concert of Dr. Raul Sunico; open house; painting contest. Presence of State Secretary for Education Mrs. Annete Nijs

Tokyo

Reception for the joint celebration of the Independence Day and Migrant Worker’s Day for the Filipino Community. Japan Times featuring page on the 105^th Anniversary of Philippine Independence.

Toronto

Miss Maria Clara 2003 Coronation; Independence Day Event of the Filipino Canadian Youth Council (2^nd, 3^rd Generation)

Vienna

Philippine Independence Day Tea for the Ladies from the diplomatic community; opening of the Honorary Consulate in St. Pölten

Vientiane

Sports activities; Open-house at the Embassy

Washington

The Dr. Jose Rizal Youth Awards to children and youth who excelled academically in their respective schools.

Wellington

Filipino Community theme "Magtulungan para sa bayan"

Yangon

Absence of SPDC Secretary 1 (S1) General Khin Nyunt

Xiamen

Post’s activities were simple in keeping with efforts to contain the spread of SARS.