On Independence Day, PH Embassy in Oman Opens New Office for OFW Concerns
Ambassador to Oman Narciso T. Castañeda (third from left) led the flag-raising ceremony, at thePhilippine Embassy in Muscat together with all the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy, their families, and members of the Filipino Community in Oman. (Muscat PE photo)
MUSCAT 02 July 2018 — The Philippine Embassy in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman held a flag-raising ceremony within Embassy premises to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence on 12 June 2018.
All the officers and staff of the Embassy were present, accompanied by Philippine School officials, teachers and staff, officials of the Filipino Social Club, and other members of the Filipino Community.
The ceremony commenced with the raising of the National Flag and singing of the National Anthem, followed by the recitation of the Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat ng Pilipinas.
Christian and Muslim prayers were recited, followed by the Independence Day message of President Rodrigo R. Duterte which was read by First Secretary and Consul Arvic V. Arevalo.
The Independence Day message of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano was read by Second Secretary and Consul Bernadette A. Mendoza, while the Independence Day message of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III was read by Labor Attaché Ponciano M. Ligutom.
Philippine Ambassador to Oman Narciso T. Castañeda addressed the gathering, reflecting that in the 120 years since the proclamation of Philippine independence in Kawit, Cavite, the Philippines and the Filipino people have evolved.
“Our forefathers who fought for our independence would have had different objectives and priorities as their situation would have been very different from ours. They could not have imagined, for example, that the Filipino population would reach a hundred million as, during their time, there could not have been more than three million people within our islands. Nor could they have imagined that within a hundred and twenty years, thousands of Overseas Filipinos would be working and living abroad, bringing with it challenges to the Philippine government,” Ambassador Castañeda said.
The Ambassador then invited the group to accompany him in inaugurating the Embassy’s new Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Office. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was followed by a brief inspection of the new area, where the ATN Officer can more efficiently process the cases of distressed Overseas Filipinos.
In keeping with the spirit of the occasion, Ambassador Castañeda also led the group to the Sentro Rizal, where he showed to the group the pictures of Filipino heroes courtesy of Project Saysay, which are on display in the library. END
For more information, visit www.muscatpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinOman
Philippine Ambassador to Oman Narciso T. Castañeda delivers his message during the Independence Day celebration at the Philippine Embassy in Muscat on 12 June 2018. (Muscat PE photo)
Filipino heroes and other notables, courtesy of Project Saysay, are on display at the Setro Rizal library in the Embassy. (Muscat PE photo)
Top left photo: Ambassador Narciso T. Castañeda cuts the ribbon at the entrance of the new Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Office. Top photo: View of the ATN Office from the hall entryway. Bottom left photo: Space for small meeting Bottom right photo: An office cubicle for taking telephone calls and logging complaints in the ATN forms on the tray. (Muscat PE photo)