Independence Day Event Held with Filipino Community in Northern Israel
TEL AVIV 14 June 2024 – For the first time, an official Philippine Independence Day celebration was held outside of Tel Aviv, in northern Israel. The Embassy and the Filipino Community gathered to mark the 126th anniversary of independence at the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, the Galilean town widely known to be where Jesus was raised and first preached.
This year’s independence day celebrations are different from the previous years’ events. In solidarity with Israeli society amid the ongoing war, the Embassy decided to hold smaller but meaningful gatherings in lieu of an evening diplomatic reception or a grand fiesta.
Aside from the 08 June event in Nazareth, programs will also be held in Tel Aviv on June 12, and in Jerusalem on June 16, “to bring Araw ng Kalayaan (Independence Day) as close as possible to Filipinos away from the center,” according to the Embassy. This also allows the Embassy to visit these communities and personally thank them for their valuable cooperation during this war.
Around 200 FilCom members and Agrostudies trainees trooped to the Basilica, mostly from Afula, Haifa, Nazareth, Krayot, and Nahariya. The guests also included religious orders whose pilgrim houses – Casa Nova in Nazareth and Tabgha Pilgerhaus on the shores of the Sea of Galilee – designated by the Embassy as temporary shelters and evacuation sites.
The Embassy’s Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) team set up a desk to provide services while private sector partners such as remittance companies offered their services and grocery stores sold Filipino products.
The event opened with the singing of the national anthem and followed by messages from DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo, DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual, DMW Secretary
Hans Cacdac, and OWWA Administrator Arnel Ignacio.
In his remarks, Ambassador Pedro Laylo, Jr. thanked the community for their close cooperation and constant support for the Embassy especially since the outbreak of the war last year. He also thanked the priests and nuns for opening their doors to Filipinos affected by the conflict.
“It is through helping each other that we show our love for our country and our malasakit (compassion) for our fellow Filipinos. I believe that that is the spirit that we should embody as we continue to build a more peaceful and prosperous Philippines,” the Ambassador said.
The program also featured traditional Filipino dances (Ifugao Dinuyya, Mamang Sorbetero) and OPM songs while the salu-salo (banquet) showcased Pinoy dishes such as kalderetang baka, litson kawali, dinengdeng, adobong kangkong, Batangas lomi, pansit, and buko pandan. END