24 July 2014 – The Philippine Embassy in Athens, Greece celebrated the 36th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week simultaneously with Apolinario Mabini’s 150th (Sesquicentennial) Birth Anniversary with two separate events.
The first event was an exhibit on the life of Apolinario Mabini which was displayed at the second floor of the Embassy for viewing by the members of the Filipino community. Philippine Ambassador to Greece Meynardo LB Montealegre delivered a short message about the exemplary lives led by Filipinos with disabilities, such as Mabini’s.
The Philippine Embassy showed a short video entitled “Flying with No Arms” produced by Power ng Pinoy, a success story of Ms. Jessica Cox, a Filipino with disability. Embassy personnel and members of the Filipino community also participated in the reading of Mabini’s Decalogue. Ambassador Montealegre awarded a special citation to Kacey Louise Arada, a 12-year old Filipino student and a cash prize contributed by the embassy personnel. Mr. Arada contributed to the Essay Writing Contest with the theme “Talino at Paninindigan ng Taong May Kapansanan: Pasaporte sa Kaunlaran.”
The framed posters of the timeline of Mabini were also displayed at the Consular Section for general public viewing for the month of July.
The Philippine Embassy officers and staff ended the celebration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Apolinario Mabini on July 23 with a simple flag raising ceremony and pledging of allegiance to the Philippine flag through the recitation of the “Panunumpa sa Watawat,” held at the Embassy grounds. Ambassador Montealegre also read excerpts of the speech of President Benigno S. Aquino III which was delivered during the celebration held on July 23 in Tanauan, Batangas. END