20 June 2016 - The Philippine Consulate General in Agana, in cooperation with the Guam Reef and Olive Spa Resort and Guam Filipino Artist (GFA), celebrated the second week of the 118th Anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence with activities including a flag-raising ceremony and art exhibit on June 12 at the front loop area of the hotel.
The ceremony was led by Philippine Consul General to Agan Marciano De Borja and Assistant General Manager Yasuo Hoshino of Guam Reef and Olive Spa Resort Hotel.
The event was also attended by Rear Admiral Bette Bolivar, Commander of the Joint Region Marianas; the members of the 33rd Guam Legislature led by Vice Speaker Benjamin J.F. Cruz; Government of Guam officials led by Dr. Sam Mabini, Acting Director of the Guam Labor Department and Representative of the Governor of Guam in the said event; the Guam National Guard led by Brigadier General Roderick Leon Guerrero; the visiting delegates from the AFP led by Rear Admiral Aurelio A. Rabusa, Jr.; the officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General; the officers and members of the FCG led by Ms. Nita Baldovino, President; and the hotel staff and invited friends from the Guam community.
Anak band led the singing of the Philippine National Anthem while Consul Edgar Tomas Q. Auxilian led the Panunumpa sa Watawat ng Pilipinas.
The flag-raising ceremony was followed by a traditional Filipino breakfast at the Top of the Reef on the 18th floor of the hotel.
Mr. Abe Obillo, Operations Manager of the hotel delivered remarks on behalf of Mr. Yasuhiro Kotera, General Manager.
Consul General De Borja delivered his Independence Day message by thanking the management of the hotel for continuing to host the annual flag-raising ceremony and traditional breakfast since 2006. He also highlighted some of the important political and economic achievements of the Philippines.
The traditional breakfast showcased various Filipino dishes including kilawing talong, pritong bangus, adobong manok, longganisa, scrambled eggs, arroz caldo, champorado, and kakanin such as pichi-pichi, maja blanca, biko, and kutsinta that were all enjoyed by the guests.
Meanwhile, the GFA focused the Independence Day celebration through the opening of its art show entitled “OBRA VI” at Agana Shopping Center on June 12. The ribbon cutting ceremony was led by Consul General De Borja and the members of the 33rd Guam Legislature Vice Speaker Benjamin J.F. Cruz and Senator Frank Aguon, Jr. together with Ms. Monica Guzman, Chairperson of Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency (CAHA), and attended by the staff of the Consulate General and members of the GFA, among others.
Consul General De Borja congratulated GFA for the successful exhibit and thanked them for their continued partnership with the Consulate General. He also wished them good luck in its application for the Banaag Award category, a Presidential Award by Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO).
“OBRA VI” highlights the beautiful artistic works of the 20 GFA members which include paintings in oil, acrylic and water color, metal embossing, installation, and 3D art. The art exhibition will run until June 26.
Among the featured artworks is the installation work by GFA Acting President Rolly Zepeda that pays tribute to the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts hosted by Guam from May to June 04 and attended by 27 Pacific Islands Countries and Territories. The event brought together artists, cultural performers, and experts from around the Pacific region to Guam for two weeks of artistic and cultural performances and festivities.
As an important component of this Independence Day celebration, members of the GFA will also conduct a workshop to teach interested potential artists on how to do portrait drawing, oil/pastel and live art painting, fruit carving demonstration, sketching, and photography from June 16 to 21.
The first successful exhibit of OBRA was held in 2010, which led to the birth of the GFA as an organization. END