24 June 2014 - On the occasion of the 116th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and the year of the 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Iran, the Philippine Embassy in Tehran headed by Ambassador Eduardo Martin R. Meñez hosted a series of activities on June 12, 13 and 17.
To give authentic Philippine flavor to these events, Filipino musicians the “Celso Espejo Rondalla” composed of Maestro Celso Espejo, Ms. Elaine Juliet Cajucom, Mr. Orlando Ocampo, Mr. Leonardo Bruno, Jr., and Mr. Rancris Denosta as well as a Filipino photographer, Mr. Paul Resurreccion, and Philippine cultural promoter, Mr. Stanley Fernandez, were invited by the Embassy to share the beauty of Filipino traditional music and showcase the various breathtaking tourist spots of the Philippines to the Diplomatic corps, officials of the Iranian government, Iranian businessmen and tour and travel operators and members of the Filipino community in Iran and their families. The magnificent United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage sites of the Philippines were also mounted for exhibit.
The first reception was in the morning of June 12 where Mrs. Meñez hosted a coffee morning at the Residence with the officers and members of the Diplomatic Ladies and Spouses Group (DLSG) of Iran.
An afternoon affair was celebrated at the Chancery with the members of the Filipino community, their families and some Iranian friends. Cultural presentations from the two Filipino organizations in Iran, the Filipino-Irano Community Association (FICA) and Pinay-Irano Family Community (PIFC), and the reading of the messages of President Benigno C. Aquino III and Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario to all Filipinos abroad gave meaning to the commemoration of the Philippine Independence day with the theme “Pagsunod sa Yapak ng mga Dakilang Pilipino, Tungo sa Malawakan at Permanenteng Pagbabago.”
On the following day, June 13, the Embassy hosted a reception with the Diplomatic corps and Iranian officials, businessmen and musicians at the Diplomatic Club. Half of the large hall of the Diplomatic club featured the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Philippines and tourism photographs of Mr. Resurreccion.
Among the important guests were Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, members of the Iran-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group, International Organizations and the different ambassadors from the ASEAN-member countries, Asia and Africa, GCC, Latin America and European countries.
The formal program started with the playing of the national anthems of the Philippines and Iran by the Rondalla group. Ambassador Meñez then delivered his message for the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Iran where he gave emphasis on the cordial and amicable relations between the two countries that have resulted in the conclusion of numerous bilateral agreements and common positions on many issues of international concern as well as the close ties that are reflected in the significant numbers of Iranians and Filipinos who have strong personal connections, including the Filipino-Iranian families, who have continued to strengthen people-to-people ties and may also be considered as a solid foundation for commercial ventures. Moving forward, he hoped for continued and increased cooperation between the Philippines and Iran in all sectors of interest.
Director General for East Asia and Oceania Abdulrasul Mohajer Hejazi of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for his part, congratulated the Philippines for the commemoration of the 116th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and mutually hoped that the two countries will go beyond 50 years of more bilateral agreements and cooperation in all fields. He also stressed the significance of the mixed marriages between Iranians and Filipinos, a characteristic that sets the Philippines apart from other countries.
The program ended with the cutting of the cake as a symbol of continued friendly relation and cooperation between both countries and the playing of traditional Filipino music by the Celso Espejo Rondalla.
Another reception was hosted by the Embassy on June 17 at the Reza Abbasi Museum where the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Philippines and tourism photographs of Mr. Resurreccion were displayed. Officials from the Iranian Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) and Tourism Promotion Organization of Iran and Iranian tour and travel operators were among those invited. The event was aimed to initially introduce the Philippines as an exciting tourist destination to the Iranian tour operators as well as to encourage them to market the Philippines to the Iranian public.
A taste of the local Filipino dishes and delicacies were served in all these events and tourism materials and the famous dried mangoes of the Philippines were distributed to all the visitors.END