23 June 2015 - The Philippine Embassy in Amman hosted a diplomatic reception on June 11 at the Al Hussein Cultural Center, which was well-attended by members of different diplomatic missions and international organizations, Jordanian government officials and businessmen, Jordanians with their Filipino spouses and the Filipino community leaders in Amman.
Guests experienced a taste of Philippine cuisine through a buffet of Filipino dishes such as Bistek Tagalog, chicken Bicol express, fish escabeche and lumpiang Shanghai, as well as Filipino desserts such as halo-halo, leche flan, biko, champorado, etc. The reception was followed by a well-applauded special performance of Sindaw Philippines Performing Arts Guild which showcased Philippine cultural dances divided into four suites: the Cordilleras, the Maria Clara, Muslim dances and Barrio Fiesta.
Sindaw wowed the audience with their graceful dancing and colorful costumes and their rendition of kundiman songs. Both the Jordanian and Filipino communities expressed their appreciation of the Embassy’s efforts to bring a Philippine cultural dance group in Jordan, the first after more than 15 years. Through the dances, the Embassy was able to share to the audience, especially the non-Filipinos, a glimpse of Philippine history and the diversity and beauty of our culture.
On June 12, the Embassy, in partnership with the United Filipino Organization (UFO) in Jordan, held an Independence Day mass and a flag raising ceremony at the Terra Sancta Gymnasium, Jabal Webde, Amman. A short program was held thereafter where the Independence Day messages of President Benigno S. Aquino III, Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz were read. Sindaw Philippines also performed a number of cultural dances during event, which featured a unique contest of bahay-kubo creations.
In the evening, the Embassy also attended the Independence Day Celebration of the Federation of Filipino Associations in Amman (FEFAA) and the Filipino Organization in Jordan (FilOrg). END