02 July 2014 - The Philippine Embassy in Buenos Aires, led by Philippine Ambassador to Argentina Ma. Amelita C. Aquino, held a flag raising ceremony at the Chancery followed by the recitation of the Panunumpa sa Watawat on June 12 as part of its commemoration activities of the 116th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.
In line with this year’s independence day theme, “Pagsunod sa Yapak ng mga Dakilang Pilipino: Tungo sa Malawakan at Permanenteng Pagbabago,” Ambassador Aquino urged the members of the Embassy to be inspired not only by the Philippine’s heroic past but also by its living heroes. She stated that each individual can contribute to the betterment of the country and improvement of its image by performing his tasks to the best of his abilities.
In addition to the flag raising ceremony, the Embassy celebrated Philippine Independence Day with members of the Filipino community in Buenos Aires at the Chancery on June 28. The gathering of the tight-knit Filipino community in Buenos Aires featured a short program composed of speeches, reading of the President’s message, a presentation by the women of the Filipino community of a traditional Filipino folk dance, games, and a merienda cena hosted by Ambassador Aquino.
In her remarks to the Filipino community, Ambassador Aquino expressed appreciation for their attendance and for their warm welcome. She commended their hard work and the sacrifices they have made for their families and the country. She also took the opportunity to inform the Filipino community of the positive developments in the Philippines and encouraged everyone to act as good and worthy “ambassadors” of the Philippines in Argentina.
As a parallel event to the festivities, the Embassy conducted an overseas voters registration drive and offered consular services to those who attended the Independence Day celebration.
Several members of the Filipino community approached Embassy personnel after the event to convey how much they enjoyed the activities and that they look forward to attending other Embassy organized events for the Filipino community. END