Philippine Embassy in Switzerland, Filipino Community Celebrate 2018 PH Independence Day
Select Filipino children in Switzerland lead the unfurling of the national flag at the Philippine Embassy in Berne. (Berne PE photo)
BERNE 13 June 2018 – The Philippine Embassy in Switzerland commemorated the 120th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence with a flag ceremony at the Embassy grounds on 09 June 2018.
The commemorative event started with a flag ceremony with the singing of the “Lupang Hinirang,” followed by a recital of the Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat ng Pilipinas. Independence Day messages from the youth’s perspective were also read to highlight the role of the younger generation in the future of the Philippines.
Ambassador to Switzerland Denis Yap Lepatan welcomed and thanked all the guests present during the activity.
Violin artist and student Ann Michelle Mondragon rendered an impressive violin performance of Filipino classics “Sampaguita,” “Usahay,” “Ili-ili Tulog Anay,” and “Pilipinas Kong Mahal,” which was enjoyed by those present during the event.
The commemoration was capped with an array of all-time favorite Filipino breakfast food, including beef tapa, tocino, longganisa, danggit, puto, sapin-sapin, lugaw, ginisang itlog, sinangag, sago at gulaman, and tsokolate eh.
The whole activity gave a semblance of a traditional fiesta in the Philippines where Filipinos, joined by friends from the Swiss community, gathered to celebrate. Around 100 members of the Filipino community in Berne attended the Embassy’s Independence Day event, donned their Barong Tagalog and Baro’t Saya.
The event also provided an opportunity for Filipinos in Switzerland to be updated on the Embassy’s activities for the year, including activities of Filipino organizations in Switzerland as well as developments in the Philippines. END
Ambassador to Switzerland Denis Yap Lepatan (leftmost) and Madame Maria Teresa C. Lepatan (2nd from left) lead the recital of the Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat ng Pilipinas at the Embassy grounds. (Berne PE photo)
The Filipino community in Berne attends the Independence Day commemoration event of the Philippine Embassy in Berne. (Berne PE photo)
For more information, visit www.bernepe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSwitzerland