25 June 2014- The Office of the Philippine Honorary Consul General in Barcelona Jordi Puig Roches and the Filipino community celebrated the 116th Philippine Independence Day on June 15 at the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) in Plaça del Angels.
The celebration started with sport activities, traditional Filipino games and music played by live bands that lasted before the start of the parade.
Honorary Consul Puig delivered the welcome remarks, followed by the messages of Mr. Carles Domingo, Commissioner of Institutional Relations of the Barcelona City Council , and Philippine Ambassador to Spain Carlos C. Salinas, who stressed the importance of perseverance, hardwork and unity – essential traits that Filipinos should keep and cultivate in line with this year´s theme of “Pagsunod Sa Yapak Ng Mga Dakilang Pilipino, Tungo Sa Malawakan at Permanenteng Pagbabago.”
Cultural dances from various regions of the Philippines such as the Igorot dance, Ati-Atihan, Masskara, Malong dance and Singkil were perfomed by the Filipino organizations. An interpretative dance paying tribute to the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) was likewise rendered by the Barcelona Dance Athletes.
The Falcons of Barcelona, mostly composed of Catalans and a few Filipinos, livened up the celebration by forming a human pyramid and displaying the Philippine flag at the finale of their performance.
The event culminated with music and performances from various local Filipino talents and bands and from rising Filipino-Spanish singer, Maria Sagana.
Aside from cultural performances, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) headed by Welfare Officer and Acting Labor Officer Ms. Maria Elvira A. Ador, processed OWWA memberships, overseas employment certificates (OEC) and employment contracts during the event.
About 3,000 Filipinos witnessed and participated in the celebration. END