08 May 2014- The Philippine Embassy in Damascus, Syria celebrated International Labor Day last May 1 at the Philippine Chancery in honor of all Filipino workers.

The Embassy prepared a one-day celebratory event which was attended by Embassy personnel, officers of Filipino Community in Syria (FCS) and the 62 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Embassy shelter.

The Labor Day celebration officially opened by the traditional flag-raising ceremony followed by a light breakfast, a demonstration on food preparation, and culminated with a short program.

During the flag-raising ceremony, Vice Consul Francis Maynard S. Maleon delivered the message of labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz.

After the breakfast, the sheltered OFWs attended a short demonstration on the preparation and making of chicken tocino and salted eggs by Assistance-to-Nationals Assistant Zenaida Orpiano.

Vice Consul Maleon encouraged the sheltered OFWs to consider alternative sources of livelihood, especially those requiring little capital, when they return to the Philippines.

In the afternoon, the Embassy also hosted a cultural presentation program participated by sheltered OFWs. END