Kalayaan 2019 Celebration Delights Lebanese, Foreign Guests
Ambassador to Lebanon Bernardita L. Catalla (third from left) and honor guests cut the ceremonial cake in celebration of the 121st Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence on 21 June 2019 at the Lancaster Tamar Hotel. (Beirut PE photo)
BEIRUT 01 July 2019 – "Impressed" and "delighted" – two words uttered by most guests who attended the National Day Reception hosted by the Philippine Embassy in Beirut on 21 June 2019 at the Lancaster Tamar Hotel, as part of its celebration of the 121st Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.
Minister of State for Foreign Trade Hassan Mourad representing the Office of the Lebanese President, as well as several Members of Parliament, members of the Lebanese Government and ambassadors graced the event, which brought together over 200 guests from across the diplomatic corps, government, business community, and civil society of Lebanon, as well as leaders and members of the local Filipino community.
In her remarks, Ambassador to Lebanon Bernardita L. Catalla underscored the friendship between the Philippines and Lebanon, as well as the contributions of Filipino workers to Lebanese families and society. She noted challenges to their situation at the moment and the Embassy's initiatives to uplift their welfare, in cooperation with non-gevernment organizations, academe, religious institutions, and Filipino community organizations.
She called on those present to ensure that care and protection be accorded to Filipino workers in Lebanon, in pursuit of a mutually-beneficial employer-employee relationship.
Guests were treated with cultural performances that included the Embassy’s personnel and Filipino community members dancing “Pangalay”, “Itik-Itik”, “Polka sa Nayon”, and “Kaamulan” festival dance.
A buffet of Filipino dishes that includes beef tapa, pansit bihon, pandesal, puto, “dynamite” chili-fish rolls, and halo-halo was savored by the guests. Philippine mango rum, spiced rum and kalamansi liqueur also delighted the guests. END
Ambassador Catalla delivers remarks to assembled guests (Beirut PE photo)
Embassy staff dance the “Itik-Itik” (Beirut PE photo)
Ambassador Catalla (fourth from left) poses with Kaamulan dancers (Beirut PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.beirutpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinLebanon/.