PH Embassy in Singapore Celebrates 127th Anniversary of Proclamation of Philippine Independence
Top photo: Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Medardo G. Macaraig leads officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore and its partner agencies in a flag-raising ceremony. Bottom photo: The Philippine Embassy also held a diplomatic reception on 11 June 2025 at Orchard Hotel Singapore with Minister for National Development Mr. Chee Hong Tat as Guest of Honor. (Singapore PE photos)
SINGAPORE 12 June 2025 — In celebration of the 127th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence and nationhood, Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Medardo G. Macaraig led the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore and its partner agencies in a flag-raising ceremony held this morning at its current office.
During the ceremony, the video greetings of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo were shown.
In addition, Heads of the Embassy’s partner agencies read the messages of their respective Department Secretaries in celebration of the Kalayaan 2025: MWO-Labor Attaché Haney Lynn G. Siclot on behalf of Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac; Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Col. Egberto O. Dacoscos PA (GSC), on behalf of Department of National Defense Secretary Gilbert C. Teodoro Jr.; and Commercial Counsellor Carla Regina P. Grepo on behalf of Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Maria Cristina Aldeguer Roque.
The multi-year Philippine Independence Day commemoration (2023–2026), themed “Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan.” highlights the birth of the Filipino nation. It reflects on the country’s early struggle for independence and the foundations of its democratic ideals. The theme aims to raise awareness among the Filipino people of our place in history as the earliest modern democracy and republic in Asia.
This year also marks the 56th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Singapore, and the 60th anniversary of Singapore’s independence and nationhood.
The Philippine Embassy extends its warmest greetings to all Filipinos in Singapore on the occasion of the 127th Anniversary of Philippine Independence.
Furthermore, the Philippine Embassy also held a diplomatic reception on 11 June 2025 at Orchard Hotel Singapore. Minister for National Development Mr. Chee Hong Tat served as Guest of Honor.
The reception gathered over 350 guests from the diplomatic corps, Singapore government, business and academic sectors, and the Embassy’s institutional partners. In his welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador Medardo G. Macaraig underscored the strong and deepening ties between the Philippines and Singapore, as exemplified by recent high-level exchanges, including the June 2025 visit of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to Manila and the August 2024 state visit of President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to the Philippines.
Ambassador Macaraig also highlighted new areas of bilateral cooperation such as carbon credits, biodiversity conservation, and digital innovation, as well as the Philippines’ upcoming ASEAN Chairship in 2026. He further paid tribute to the 220,000-strong Filipino community in Singapore for their contributions to sectors such as healthcare, education, finance, and the arts.
In his response, Minister Chee congratulated the Philippines and expressed confidence in the continued growth of Philippine-Singapore relations, anchored on mutual trust, shared regional priorities, and robust people-to-people ties.
This year’s reception broke new ground with an all-Filipino culinary experience served by the Orchard Hotel Singapore. Additional Filipino favorites were featured at food stalls by the Embassy’s Food Trek partners namely Don Lechon, Lechon Republic, Nanay’s Kitchen (featuring halal offerings), and Second Serving.
The evening’s program also showcased the cultural vibrancy and musical talent distinct of Filipinos. The Embassy’s resident band performed six songs, including a heartfelt rendition of Coldplay’s “Man on the Moon” by Ambassador Macaraig himself, as a musical tribute to Singapore’s 60th anniversary of nationhood (SG60). The Embassy family added a light-hearted song and dance performance of the “Coconut Song,” a song composed by Filipino national artist Ryan Cayabyab. Live music was further enlivened by Mhix Flava, an all-Filipino band known for their performances at Octapas by El Mesa in Clark Quay, also a Food Trek partner.
The celebration forms part of the Embassy’s multi-year observance of the Philippines’ journey to independence, under the theme “Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan.” (Freedom. Future. History.) – a reminder of the Filipino people’s enduring aspiration for sovereignty, progress, and historical awareness. END
The Philippine Embassy also held a diplomatic reception on 11 June 2025 at Orchard Hotel Singapore. (Singapore PE photos)
For more information, visit https://www.singaporepe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg, or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSingapore.