30 July 2014 - The officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, led by Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel M. Lopez, held a ceremony on Juy 23 to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of the Filipino revolutionary hero Apolinario Mabini.
The ceremony began with the singing of the national anthem by all Embassy personnel, followed by an invocation led by Ms. Thelma Divino. Ambassador Lopez delivered a commemorative message urging everyone to take inspiration from Mabini, the “Brains of the Revolution” and “Sublime Paralytic” who served as the first Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines under President Emilio Aguinaldo.
After the delivery of the Ambassador’s message, Embassy personnel watched video clips featuring the life of Mabini and Ang Tunay na Dekalogo (The True Decalogue), a set of 10 rules which Mabini urged every Filipino to hold dear. The Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Gilberto G.B. Asuque also discussed Ang Tunay na Dekalogo in his commentary on Mabini’s principles and how these apply to public servants at present.
On a related note, the Association of Filipinos Students in Japan (AFSJ) has planned a discussion on Mabini’s life and Decalogue in the group’s Pinoy Talks series to be held on August 16. END