PH Embassy in Pretoria Hosts Diplomatic Reception Commemorating 127th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence

PRETORIA 20 June 2025 — The Philippine Embassy in Pretoria hosted a diplomatic event entitled Rondalla Rhythms: A Tribute to Philippine Independence on 15 June 2025 at the Musaion Hall of the University of Pretoria.

The event was graced by Ms. Leonah Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, Deputy Minister for Correctional Services and member of the National Assembly of South Africa. 

Approximately 250 guests from the government, diplomatic corps, business sector, academic community and other sectors of South African society attended the reception, as well as members of the Filipino community.

As it took place on the eve of this year’s South African Youth Day, the event was made more meaningful with the attendance of South African youth from the Laezonia Primary Farm School and the Mamelodi Music Conservatoire.

In her remarks, Ambassador Noralyn Jubaira Baja paid tribute to the heroes of the Philippine Revolution whose heroism and sacrifices gave birth to the first democratic republic in Asia. As the Philippines looks to the future, she underscored that the country would remain unwavering in its commitment to be a responsible member of the international community by promoting and advancing a multilateral order anchored on equality, justice, and the rule of law.

Ambassador Baja mentioned recent significant developments in the bilateral relations between the Philippines and South Africa, particularly in the areas of agriculture, defense and security, trade and investment, and technical cooperation. She expressed hope that both countries would be able to harness the full potential of their partnership in the years to come.

The Ambassador likewise conveyed the commitment of the Philippines to reinvigorate its relations and deepen its engagement with other African countries in the region, namely, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. She reiterated that the Philippines stands ready to share its wealth of experience and expertise in areas relevant to the development agenda of its African friends and partners.

Representing the South African government, Deputy Minister Ntshalintshali reflected on the strong ties between the Philippines and South Africa. She noted that both countries have a common history of overcoming adversity, as well as shared aspirations for peace, development and prosperity. These values have laid a strong foundation for the enduring friendship between the two nations. 

The main highlight of the event was the performance of Musiko Filipino Rondalla (MFR), a group founded and led by Ms. Mariefrance Vasquez Ballester, an alumna of the University of the Philippines’ College of Music, whose mission is to preserve and promote the rich tradition of Filipino rondalla music.

MFR repertoire of Filipino songs such as Mabuhay March; Prelude Etnika; Ako ay Pilipino; medley of folk songs from the Ilocos, Tagalog and Visayas regions; Sua Ku Sua; and Mutya ng Pasig celebrated the rich and vibrant musical traditions of the Philippines and had also allowed the local audience to feel the throbbing heartbeat of the Filipino soul.

The group also performed global hits and international songs not only to celebrate the universal nature of music and our shared humanity, but also to showcase the versatility and forward-looking nature of the Filipino rondalla. Their homage to South African music and cultural heritage through their performance of The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Siyahamba, Shosholoza, Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), Pata Pata, and Circle of Life, delighted the crowd and made some of them dance and sing along to the music. 

 As a flagship cultural diplomacy initiative, MFR’s performance showcased the world-class talent and artistry of the Filipino people to the South African audience. It also aspired to contribute towards greater cultural understanding and people-to-people interaction between the two nations. 

 The event was also a celebration of other aspects of Filipino culture and identity. To complete their full immersion in Filipino culture, guests were also invited to a reception that featured Filipino-inspired dishes and canapes such as pansit guisado, chicken adobo with rice, lumpia, puto with cheese, turon, and dried mangoes, as well as Filipino rum-based cocktails. Tourism videos from the Department of Tourism were also played to promote the Philippines as a travel destination. 

The Embassy likewise used the opportunity to promote Philippine products which included the locally manufactured snack products of Liwayway Food South Africa (LFSA), as well as Don Papa Rum (DPR), the world-class Philippine liquor which is commercially available in South Africa.

The diplomatic event was made possible through the generous support of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), LFSA, and Truman & Orange, the South African distributor of DPR. END

For more information, visit https://www.pretoriape.dfa.gov.ph  or https://facebook.com/PHLinSouthAfrica/.