11 April 2014 – The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon attended the 2014 Search for Star on 45 Mother for All Season organized by the Samahan ng Manggagawa sa Lebanon (SML), which was held at the Babel Theatre in Hamra, Beirut last March 30.
The event aimed to celebrate Mother’s Day, which this year was observed in Lebanon on 21 March or every first day of the start of the spring season. The competitors consisted of eleven (11) Filipino mothers, at least 45 years of age, each representing a well-known Filipino community organization or group in Lebanon.
Before the search commenced, Vice Consul Dennis John Briones delivered the message of Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz by greeting all the mothers present a Happy Mother’s Day and congratulating the officers and members of the SML for pooling their resources to hold the event and also the candidates for their active participation. Vice Consul Briones also took the opportunity to announce two important Embassy activities: first, the registration for overseas absentee voting (OAV) which will commence on 6 May 2014; and second, the Independence Day Flag Ceremony, Mass, Food Festival and Cultural Show with the Filipino community, to be be held at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut on 8 June 2014.
The candidates opened the search with a dance number and then proceeded to compete in the following categories: talent show, 1960’s attire, Filipiniana dress and Q&A. In between these segments, local Filipino singers and dancers took turns in entertaining the audience. All eleven candidates earned a special award but the title of Star on 45 Mother of All Seasons went to Mrs. Judith Hayek who is married to a Lebanese with whom she has a son and daughter. Ms. Marina Ubaldo and Ms. Judy Ann Rublico were proclaimed 1st and 2nd runners up, respectively. END