18 June 15 - The Philippine Embassy in Athens marked the celebration of the 117th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence this June with a series of activities including a flag-raising ceremony; breakfast with the members of the Filipino community in Athens, Greece; a diplomatic reception; and overseas voting (OV) registration.
The flag-raising ceremony was held at the Philippine Embassy grounds on June 12 at 9:00 a.m. Ambassador and Mrs. Nestor Z. Ochoa led the Embassy’s officers and staff in singing “Lupang Hinirang,” followed by the recitation of the “Panunumpa sa Watawat”, the Embassy Prayer, and the reading of the Independence Day message of President Benigno S. Aquino III. The flag-raising ceremony was followed by a simple breakfast salo-salo of Tapa, Sinangag, at Itlog (Tapsilog) with members of the Filipino community in Athens.
On the evening of June 12, around 200 guests from the diplomatic community, the Greek government, the Greek maritime/shipping industry, and leaders of the Filipino community attended the Philippine Embassy’s diplomatic reception at the Athens Ledra Hotel. Filipiniana costumes from the collection of Mrs. Maria Tomasa Eleazar Ochoa, wife of Ambassador Ochoa, were placed on a fashion display during the diplomatic reception.
On June 14, the Filipino community in Athens, celebrated Independence Day at the Open Basketball Court of the Organismos Neolias Kai Athlisis (ONA) in Athens. The occasion was graced with the presence of Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) who delivered a speech before members of the Filipino community. During the event, the Philippine Embassy conducted Overseas Voting (OV) registration and processed 20 registration/certification applications, 10 applications for change of address, 9 applications for reactivation of registration records, 2 applications for transfer of registration and 1 application for correction of wrong entries. END