PH Embassy in Iran Commemorates 120th Anniversary of PH Independence
Officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Tehran, Iran prepare for the traditional flag-raising ceremony at the chancery. (Tehran PE photo)
TEHRAN 03 July 2018 – The Philippine Embassy in Tehran organized three major activities for this year’s commemoration of the 120th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine independence.
On June 11, Ambassador to Iran Wilfredo C. Santos led the officers and staff of the Embassy for the traditional flag-raising ceremony at the chancery. Officers and staff personnel wore formal Filipiniana attire for this annual event.
On June 17, the Embassy held a simple dinner reception for select members of the business community, diplomatic corps, ASEAN ambassadors, and ranking officials from Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
This year’s dinner reception held at the Espinas Palace Hotel in Tehran saw a significant number of MOFA Directors-General in attendance (equivalent to the Department’s Assistant Secretaries), which included the heads of Protocol, Consular Affairs, and Overseas Iranian Affairs.
Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Gholam Reza Anzari was represented by Director General for Coordination and Monitoring of Bilateral Economic Relations Fereidoun Haghbin, who delivered an impassioned message on the occasion.
Restrictions on entertainment options in Iran due to religious and cultural sensitivities were supplanted by the Embassy’s efforts in audio-visual amusement, featuring classical Philippine music as performed by the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra. Guests were visually transported to various scenic locations in the Philippines, as they enjoyed a buffet dinner through maximized use of the hotel’s 12m2 LED screen featuring high-resolution images from the Department of Tourism.
On June 22, the National Day Fellowship at the chancery saw various performances from Filipino organizations in Iran which showcased their singing and dancing talents, such as a guitar/vocals rendition of Fredie Aguilar’s popular song “Anak” sung by a Filipino-Iranian crooner, “tinikling,” and the flamboyant “Sayaw sa Cuyo” from Cuyo, Palawan. Embassy staff performed a song and dance number as well, to complete the embassy’s participation in the half-day gathering. Meal packs featuring Pinoy classic favorites like lumpia and beef steak were distributed for about one hundred fifty guests. END
For more information, visit www.tehranpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/philippineembassy.tehran
Philippine Embassy in Tehran officers and staff during the Diplomatic Reception. (Tehran PE photo)
Ambassador to Iran Wilfredo C. Santos (six from the left)-with some of the Filipino
Community and Embassy staff at the chancery on June 22. (Tehran PE photo)