PH Embassy in Athens Holds Flag-Raising Ceremony with Filipino Community for 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence
Guests from the Filipino community in Athens line up to register for the Flag-Raising Ceremony hosted by the Philippine Embassy at the Official Residence of the Ambassador (Athens PE photo)
ATHENS 22 June 2023 – The Philippine Embassy held the flag-raising ceremony at the official Residence of the Ambassador on 11 June 2023 to start the commemoration for the 125th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence with members of the Filipino community, and was followed by a Filipino breakfast. The official Residence was set up with a Philippine fiesta theme that featured colorful “banderitas” (flaglets) and “bahay-kubo” (palm huts) stalls.
The program included the singing of the National Anthem, reciting the “Panunumpa Sa Watawat ng Pilipinas”, and the messages of Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.; DFA Secretary Enrique A. Manalo, DMW Secretary Susana Ople and OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio. Philippine Ambassador to Greece Giovanni Palec also delivered his remarks for the occasion.
In his remarks, Ambassador Palec paid tribute to the country’s past as well as present heroes. He reminded them to always remember the past as a guide to the future and that the freedom they enjoy today was earned through blood and sacrifice. Thereafter, the Filcom members were invited to join the Embassy and MWO/OWWA personnel for the official photo.
The more than 200 guests were offered Filipino food such as garlic fried rice, skinless longganisa (sweet sausage), puto (rice cake), dinuguan (black pork stew), adobo (stewed meat), tuyo (dried fish), and fresh fruits. Brewed coffee, hot tea and juice were also available. The guests were entertained with the classical Filipino music rendered by some members of the Filipino community. Mr. Venn Angkico, played “Ngayon at Kailanman” and a medley of Tagalog songs on the saxophone. Mr. Anthony Cabonel, Eunice Manigbas and Kirsten Arda, young Filipino singers, rendered famous tagalog songs such as: “Lipad Ng Pangarap; Sumayaw-Sumunod, Salamat Musika, Pinoy Ako among others. The Filipino Community members enjoyed the food and entertainment provided. END
The Philippine flag was hoisted as the Filipino Community in Athens sing Lupang Hinirang (Athens PE photo)
First Secretary and Consul Ms Judy Barbara G. Robianes served as the emcee during the event
and led the Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat ng Pilipinas (Athens PE photo)
The Ecumenical Prayer was then led by Ms. Shirley Manigbas, President of the Catholic Union of Filipinos in Athens (Athens PE photo)
The program included the messages of President H.E. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.; DFA Secretary Enrique A. Manalo (as read by First Secretary and Consul Ms. Therese R. Cantada), DMW Secretary Susana Ople and OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio. (Athens PE photo)
Ambassador Giovanni E. Palec, Philippine Ambassador to Greece delivering his Independence Day message to the Filipino community for the occasion. (Athens PE photo)
Members of the 2nd Generation Filipinos in Greece, wearing traditional Filipino attire, attended the Flag Raising Ceremony together with their parents (Athens PE photo)
Leaders of Filipino community organizations in Athens with Labor Attaché Cynthia Cruz and Welfare Officer Marivic Mondina (Athens PE photo)
Ambassador Giovanni Palec welcomed the guests from the Filipino Community in Athens to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and Nationhood
(Athens PE photo)
The Officers and Staff of the Philippine Embassy, Migrant Workers Office and the Office of
Overseas Welfare Administration in Greece (Athens PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.athenspe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHLinGreece/ .