10 June 2015 - Philippine Honorary Consul Tomasso Berruti, hosted a reception to mark the 117th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence on June 07 at his residence in the city of Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria Alex Lamadrid and Communications Assistant Mr. Clifford Legal attended the celebration. More than thirty overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) composed of professionals from the IT, telecommunications, and construction sectors, Filipinas married to Beninese citizens, as well as Consul Berruti’s spouse Sabine, and their children Leo and Margot, were present during the celebration. Rev. Fr. Jan Limchua, Secretary of the Embassy of the Holy See and a Filipino priest from Cebu, also attended the reception.
After the singing of the Philippine National Anthem, Consul Berruti welcomed the Philippine Embassy officials, all Filipinos and members of their families to the Philippine Independence Day celebration, and congratulated the Philippines on the 117th anniversary of Independence. Consul Berruti expressed hope for the further strengthening of relations between the Philippines and Benin in all areas, especially in the economic and political spheres.
In his remarks, Ambassador Lamadrid conveyed the greetings of President Benigno S. Aquino III and other officials on the occasion of Philippine Independence, and expounded on this year’s theme “Kalayaan 2015: Tagumpay sa Pagbabagong Nasimulan, Abot Kamay na ng Bayan.” Ambassador Lamadrid emphasized the economic and political achievements made by the Philippines particularly in the past year, as well as the current concerns of the Philippine government, including the West Philippine issue and the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
Ambassador Lamadrid exhorted the OFWs to save and invest their hard-earned money in the Philippines, especially for their retirement. The Ambassador also informed the OFWs about the consular and other services provided by the Philippine Embassy. He strongly encouraged OFWs to register as overseas voters to enable them to exercise their right to suffrage during the May 2016 national elections.
Ambassador Lamadrid expressed his sincere appreciation to Consul Berruti for hosting the reception, and ended his remarks with a toast to the continued long-lasting friendship between the Philippines and Benin. The celebration was capped with the cutting of the Independence Day cake by Ambassador Lamadrid, assisted by the Consul and Mrs. Berruti and the OFWs.
Children of Filipinas married to Beninese citizens entertained the attendees with their rendition of the patriotic song “Bayan Ko” and a graceful Hawaiian dance to the tune of “Tiny Bubbles”.
After the reception, the Philippine Embassy team offered consular and ATN services, as well as registration of OFWs as overseas voters. They conducted a financial literacy seminar and showed a video on savings and investments in different instruments, including investments in the Philippine stock market, real estate, UITF’s, variable insurance, and bank savings. The Embassy team also discussed the current status of the West Philippine Sea issue and showed the video “Sigalot” through which the OFWs gained a more profound insight into the issue. END.