Filipino Community in Belgium, Luxembourg Celebrates Independence Day
Members of the Filipino Community performs on the occasion of the 121st anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence.(Brussels PE photo)
BRUSSELS 23 June 2019 — The Philippine Embassy in Brussels participated in various Independence Day events organized by various Filipino community organizations in Belgium and Luxembourg to kick off the month-long celebration of the 121st Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.
The Filipino community in Luxembourg was the first to celebrate Independence Day by holding their event on 2 June 2019 at the Saurpark in Rosport, which included a Mass, cultural program featuring an arnis demonstration, dance and violin performances by community members, and booths selling Filipino delicacies.
On 8 June 2019, it was the turn of the Filipino community in Ghent, Belgium to celebrate Independence Day, with Mayor Mathias De Clercq and Philippine Ambassador to Belgium Eduardo José A. de Vega leading the parade around Koning Albertpark.
In his remarks, Ambassador de Vega called on the City of Ghent to honor Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal by naming a street after him. Dr. Rizal’s second novel El Filibusterismo was published in Ghent in 1891.
The Embassy also set up an information booth where Filipino nationals inquired about consular services such as reacquiring or retaining Philippine citizenship. A cultural program and food booths also enhanced the event’s fiesta atmosphere.
The following day, the northern Belgian city of Deinze welcomed the flagship celebration of the Filipino and Belgian communities in Belgium. The day’s festivities started with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist, followed by a Belgian town crier leading the parade and announcing in Flemish a short history of Philippine independence before the town’s locals.
Children and adults alike enjoyed traditional games, while the cultural program highlighted traditional dances. The program ended on a high note with a rousing rendition of Tagumpay Nating Lahat by the Filipino community members in attendance.
Festivities will continue later in the month, with the Embassy scheduled to host the Filipino community at the Embassy premises as well as a diplomatic reception on 22 and 27 June 2019, respectively. END
The Filipino community in Belgium and Luxembourg celebrate the occasion of the 121st anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence. (Brussels PE photo)
For more information, visit www.brusselspe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBelgium/.