DFA Mindanao Celebrates Kalayaan 2019
DAVAO 20 June 2019 – To celebrate the 121st Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, with the theme: “Kalayaan 2019: Tapang ng Bayan, Malasakit sa Mamamayan,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Mindanao headed by Assistant Secretary Uriel Norman R. Garibay, and in collaboration with DFA Consular Office Davao (CO Davao) hosted an Independence Day Reception on 12 June 2019 at the Pinnacle Suites and Hotel, Davao City.
“While independence was gained through tapang, it can only be therefore nurtured through malasakit for one another. The freedom we gained a hundred and years ago will be nothing if we do not help each other out today, if we do not work together to build our communities and create a stronger nation,” said Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in a message real by Vice Mayor Bernard E. Al-ag, who also served as Guest of Honor.
The celebration was also attended by members of the consular community based in Davao, officials and representatives from the national line agencies, local government units, private sectors, academe and media.
Assistant Secretary Garibay thanked all the attendees for coming and celebrating the 121st anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence.
The official Independence Day messages of President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. were read by Assistant Secretary Garibay and CO Davao Officer in Charge Ebrahim T. Zailon, respectively.
After the reading of the messages, Assistant Secretary Garibay proposed a toast and led in the cake cutting together with the guest of honor and heads of the consular corps.
The attendees were serenaded by Koro Dabawenyo with its rendition of Filipino folk songs. They also enjoyed in partaking the delicious traditional Pinoy merienda such as puto, biko, banana and camote fritters, maja blanca, lumpia shanghai and the crowd’s favorite, taho served with sago, sweetened langka, milk and sweet caramel, to name some. END
