Philippine Embassy in Washington DC Celebrates the 124th Anniversary of the Philippine Independence
Top left: Ambassador Romualdez, together with Embassy officials, welcomes guests to the reception in celebration of the 124th Anniversary of the Philippine Independence held on 15 June 2022; (Center photo, L-R) US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jung Pak, Ambassador Jose Manuel G. Romualdez, and National Security Council Senior Director Edgar Kagan during the toast ceremony at the diplomatic reception; (Right photo) Ambassador Romualdez (center) with Congressman Bobby Scott of Virginia (left) and Congressman Steve Chabot of Ohio (right); Bottom left: Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez (center) with the other Heads of Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the United States. (left to right) Philippine Consuls General Elmer G. Cato (New York), Edgar B. Badajos (Los Angeles), Jerril G. Santos (Houston), Jesusa Susana V. Paez (Chicago), Neil Frank R. Ferrer (San Francisco), and Emilio T. Fernandez (Honolulu).(Photos from Washington DC PE)
WASHINGTON D.C. – The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C.,led by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez, celebrated the 124th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence through a series of simple yet meaningful events.
With the official theme Kalayaan 2022: Pagsulong sa Hamon ng Panibagong Bukas (Rise towards the Challenge of a New Beginning), the Embassy held its traditional Independence Day flag honoring ceremony in the morning of June 12, 2022 at the Embassy’s Old Chancery building. Following the raising of the Philippine flag, the Independence Day video messages of Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr were played. Ambassador Romualdez then delivered his personal greetings and message. Later that evening, the Embassy and both Filipino and American communities were entertained and serenaded at the 2022 Independence Day concert produced by TFC at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. The concert celebrated the theme “Himig ng Kalayaan: Celebrating Filipino Excellence and Heritage” and showcased world-class performances by distinguished Filipino artists such as the Concert King Martin Nievera, Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha, and New York’s Broadway Barkada.
On June 13, a historical marker dedicating the Official Residence of the Philippine Ambassador in Washington, D.C. as a National Historical Landmark of the Philippines. was installed at the façade of the official residence in the United States.
The Embassy also hosted the official launch of “The Philippines Matters for America/America Matters for the Philippines” publication, capping the yearlong celebration of the 75th year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the United States.
To conclude the Embassy’s Independence Day festivities, Ambassador Romualdez hosted a diplomatic reception on June 15, where in his remarks, Ambassador Romualdez expressed that he is deeply honored to have been requested to continue serving as the Ambassador to the United States under the incoming administration of president-elect Ferdinand ‘Bong-Bong’ Marcos Jr with specific instructions to “continue what I have been doing here in bringing relations between the United States and the Philippines to an even higher level, and for the two nations to achieve a better understanding of - and appreciation for - each other.”
The event was attended by key partners from the U.S. government, including the National Security Council, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense; members of the diplomatic corps; and, friends from the business community.
Along with the celebration of the 124th Philippine Independence Day this year, the Embassy also commemorated the closing of the year-long 75th anniversary of the Philippines-US diplomatic relations, with a hope of continued robust alliance between the two countries.
Independence Day Message of Ambassador Jose Manuel G. Romualdez: https://tinyurl.com/9rb4aek9
For more information, visit https://www.washingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph, www.philippineembassy-usa.org, https://www.facebook.com/PHinUSA, https://www.twitter.com/philippinesusa or https://www.instagram.com/philippinesusa/ END
Top photo: Flag raising ceremony of the Embassy’s officers and staff at the Old Chancery Building. Bottom photos: The Broadway Barkada, Asia’s Nightingale Ms. Lani Misalucha and Mr. Martin Nievera serenading the Filipino community during the TFC produced concert entitled “Himig ng Kalayaan: Celebrating Filipino Excellence and Heritage”(Photos from WDCPE)
Top photos: Updated Facade of Official Residence with the Historical Marker; (L-R) Chief Architect Reynaldo Lita, NHCP Chair Dr. Rene Escalante, Ambassador Jose Manuel G. Romualdez, Deputy Chief of Mission Jaime Ramon T. Ascalon, Jr with the newly installed Historical Marker;
Bottom photos L to R: Ambassador Romualdez delivers remarks during the launching of the East-West center’s publication “The Philippines Matters for America / America Matters for the Philippines”; EWC President Suzanne Vares-Lum presents “The Philippines Matters for America / America Matters for the Philippines”; Embassy of the United States in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava virtually delivered her remarks during the East-West Center’s publication launch (Photos from Washington DC PE)