06 January 2014 – The Philippine Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, together with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), commemorated Rizal Day last 27 December 2013.

Vice Consul Dennis John Briones, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., led Embassy, POLO and OWWA officers and staff, as well as Filipinos sheltered in the Embassy’s Migrant Workers and Overseas Filpinos Resource Center (MWOFRC) in commemorating the event.  A simple flag ceremony was held for the occasion. The celebration was also joined by 27 Filipino repatriates transiting from Syria via Lebanon.

The event started with the singing of the national anthem “Lupang Hinirang” led by Consular Staff Melissa Mancenido and the recitation of the “Panunumpa sa Watawat ng Pilipinas” led by Cultural Officer Gladys Perey and followed by a brief message by Vice Consul Briones.

Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) officer Dexter Macaraig’s reading of the original Spanish version of “Mi Ultimo Adios,” a poem written by Dr. Jose P. Rizal on the eve of his execution, capped the event. END