DFA Consular Office in Lipa Joins the September MANA Mo 2020 Celebration

LIPA 01 October 2020 – In celebration of this year’s Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month or “MANA Mo 2020,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Consular Office  (CO) in Lipa took part in various online activities organized by the DFA – Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO) throughout the month of September. These included changing of Facebook profile pictures, posting maritime experiences, sharing of maritime trivia items, and joining a webinar. 

With this year’s theme “Iisang Bangka Tayo: Unity in Uncertain Times,” DFA-MOAO launched activities that will deepen one’s understanding and appreciation of the rich maritime culture of our country. The Consular Office personnel showed their support by changing their Facebook profile pictures and posting maritime experiences throughout the country such as in the beautiful beaches of Batangas, Boracay, El Nido, Siquijor, Batanes, and Quezon.

The personnel also enjoyed many scientific and historical information that were posted on the official DFA Facebook page and shared them using their own Facebook accounts. Some of the MANA Mo graphics highlighted the Philippines as the global center of marine biodiversity, the Philippines sea turtles and seashells, and commemorated the 1987 sinking of the Philippine vessel Doña Paz. 

Lastly, work-from-home (WHF) personnel attended the webinar called “The Balangay through the Lens of Philippine Maritime History and Boat Culture”. Through the webinar, the personnel valued the country as an archipelago even more as they learned about its rich maritime culture, history, traditions, and archaeology.

With this celebration, the Consular Office in Lipa realized that the Philippines is truly a maritime treasure that should be celebrated, promoted, and protected. END

(Lipa CO photos)