20 June 2014 - Philippine Ambassador to Viet Nam Jerril G. Santos led the celebrations and festivities in Viet Nam to commemorate the 116th proclamation of Philippine Independence with the theme “Pagsunod sa Yapak ng mga Dakilang Pilipino, Tungo sa Malawakan at Permanenteng Pagbabago.”
This year’s Independence Day celebrations started with an open house at the Embassy grounds in Hanoi on June 08. The open house featured a short program followed by a simple Filipino breakfast enjoyed together by the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy and about 60 members of the Filipino community in Hanoi.
After a solemn flag-raising ceremony, Ambassador Santos delivered a short speech expressing his pleasure at the opportunity for Embassy personnel to interact with the members of the Filipino community, his pride in the professionalism and competence of the Filipinos in Viet Nam, and his belief that the Filipinos overseas are the true ambassadors of Philippine culture abroad.
Third Secretary and Vice Consul Sheila Monedero-Arnesto read the Message of President Benigno S. Aquino III for this year’s celebration of Independence Day and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Dean Jason N. Arriola read to the community the Message of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario.
Many Filipinos who participated in the open house wore their barong Tagalog, Filipiniana or other native Philippine attire. The guests included teachers, managers, supervisors, engineers, technicians, students and other professionals who work in the areas in or surrounding Hanoi.
On June 12, the Philippine Embassy hosted a reception for the diplomatic community, high-ranking officials of the Vietnamese Government and representatives of the Filipino community in Hanoi.
The Embassy was especially overwhelmed and delighted by the support of the Vietnamese Government and the international community in Hanoi. The reception was the most well-attended event of the Embassy in a number of years and featured a promotional video from the Department of Tourism’s “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign. The guests also complimented the unique flavor of the native Philippine delicacies that were served during the reception.
On June 13, Ambassador Santos flew to Ho Chi Minh City to attend the diplomatic reception that was organized that evening by Philippine Honorary Consul General Atty. Le Thi Phung. The reception was organized especially for the members of the consular community who are based in Ho Chi Minh City, the local officials of the Vietnamese Government, and the representatives of the larger Filipino community in the city. The Philippine Independence Day reception in Ho Chi Minh City was made more special by being held at the Reunification Palace, which is one of the most-renowned and historically important landmarks in the city.
On June 15, the Samahang Pinoy (SAPI) also held a Family Day at the Equatorial Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City where close to 500 members of the Filipino community were in attendance.
Ho Chi Minh City is home to an estimated 5,000 Filipino workers. Like the Filipinos in the northern part of Viet Nam, the Filipinos in Ho Chi Minh City are professionals who are well-regarded by the locals and foreigners for their ability and work attitude.
Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Viet Nam remain strong, friendly and continuously developing to enable cooperation in various areas of mutual interest.
The special importance that is attached by both countries to their bilateral relations is evidenced by the numerous high-level visits from both sides, including the visit of President Aquino to Hanoi in 2010, the visit of President Truong Tan Sang to Manila in 2011 and the recent visit of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to Manila from May 21 to 22 this year. END