17 September 2014 - President Benigno S. Aquino III received a warm and very enthusiastic welcome from the more than 700 Filipinos living and working in Belgium who attended the FILCOM Grand Event at the Cathedral of Sts. Michael and Gudule, in the heart of Brussels.
The Filipino Community gathering has the Filipino community buzzing with excitement to see and hear President Aquino since they first learned of the visit a month ago. Philippine Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg and Head of the Philippine Mission to the European Union, Ambassador Victoria S. Bataclan sent out an all-out invitation to all Filipinos in Belgium and Luxembourg, including The Netherlands, and included announcement of the Filipino community event in various Filipino gatherings preceding the event.
President Aquino reciprocated the warm welcome of the Filipino community by mentioning that he was setting aside his cravings for Belgian chocolates to meet the Filipinos, as the Filipinos in Belgium are sweeter than chocolates. He went to share the positive updates in the country's governance, his conviction of having a corruption-free Administration, which the Filipinos overseas could be very proud of.
He also shared the country's consistent economic progress since 2010 that are getting good marks from international credit ratings institutions, thus boosting investors' confidence on the Philippines.
Fr. Cladue Castaiu, the parish priest of the Cathedral, and Fr. Raymund Gaspar of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Brussels offered a special prayer for the President and his sisters. They are very happy to meet the President whom they describe as a "good man."
The President and his delegation will have official meetings with European Union officials and Belgium Government officials before he proceeds to France and Germany. END