27 June 2014 – Filipinos in Switzerland showcased why “it’s more fun in the Philippines” in the highly-anticipated celebration every June of the Anniversary of Philippine Independence.
To celebrate the 116th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence in Geneva, the Philippine Mission to the United Nations and other International Organizations, headed by Ambassador Cecilia Rebong, Permanent Representative to the UN and other International Organizations, and the Philippine Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO), headed by Ambassador Esteban Conejos, Jr., Permanent Representative to the WTO, hosted a formal reception on June 11 at the Intercontinental Hotel.
More than 250 guests from the diplomatic corps, the United Nations office and Specialized Agencies, leaders of the Filipino community in Geneva, and some Filipinos working at the United Nations attended the event.
Mr. Michael Møller, Acting Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, was also present.
Images of tourist attractions in the Philippines were displayed at the reception to highlight the Philippine tourism slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.”
The Philippine Missions’ Guest of Honor was Philippine Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, who was in Geneva as head of the Philippine delegation to the International Labor Conference.
In her message, Secretary Baldoz highlighted the commitment of President Benigno S. Aquino III to root out corruption and instill good governance to enhance the country’s global competitiveness. She cited the results of the positive reforms of the firmly upheld “good governance is good economics” principle of the Aquino administration.
She also mentioned the important role of regional and international partners who are working with Filipinos in bringing prosperity to the country. She thanked them for their expression of solidarity and for providing assistance to the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan / Yolanda.
“The essence of celebrating our Independence Day tonight is in our collective effort in working together to pursue continued economic and social growth coupled with our consistent advocacy for the rule of law towards an inclusive, just and prosperous Filipino society,” Secretary Baldoz stressed.
The other highlights of the evening were the special performances of the Notre Dame Filipino Choir and Ms. Lica de Guzman.
Ms. de Guzman, a Swiss-Filipina and a child singing sensation dubbed as the Little Philippine Pearl, wowed the guests with her own interpretation of the songs “Your Heart is as Black as Knight” and “Imagine” as well as her moving rendition of “Hymne à l'amour.”
Ms. de Guzman is a recording artist under the Universal Music Group International. Because of her gift for singing, she was personally selected by British singer, songwriter and producer Phil Collins as one of the ten children from throughout the world to become a Little Dreams Foundation member. The Foundation’s objective is to help gifted children to fulfill their dreams in the artistic and athletic fields.
The Notre Dame Filipino Choir, on the other hand, is a group of Filipinos coming from diverse fields that are working in Switzerland and who volunteer their time and talent to sing in masses and special occasions in Geneva and neighboring Swiss cities.
The Choir serenaded the guests with “Dahil sa Iyo,” a classic Filipino love song and one of the most popular examples of the Kundiman genre. They then capped their performance with their interpretation of “Manila,” a song written about love for the Philippine capital, which was chosen to encourage guests to visit and experience why it is more fun in the Philippines.
“With around 12-million strong Filipino diaspora, the Filipino spirit remains strong. This is demonstrated by our enthusiasm, our passion and our untiring demonstration of love for our country not only during celebrations of our Independence Day but also in how we express our being Filipinos in our everyday lives,” Ambassador Rebong said. END