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PHL EMBASSY CONDUCTS CONSULAR MISSION IN FLORIANOPOLIS, BRAZIL

04 August 2015 - The Philippine Embassy in Brasilia, led by Ambassador Jose D.R. Burgos, conducted a consular mission and mobile overseas voters registration in Florianopolis, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil from July 24 to 26.

There were 25 passport applicants and 19 overseas voter registrants from Florianopolis and the nearby state of Rio Grande do Sul during the said weekend mission. The Embassy team also accepted applications for civil registration.

Ambassador Burgos met with the Filipinos in Florianopolis who are mostly from the religious group, Members Church of God International (MCGI), including its leader Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano, MCGI's Presiding Minister.

MCGI is an international religious group with headquarters in the Philippines. It has a growing presence in Latin America due to its missionaries deployed in various countries in the continent and an internet program being aired in Portuguese and Spanish. In Brazil alone, MCGI has about 70 locales or chapters with thousands of Filipino and Brazilian members.

The Embassy team also visited the Salut Restaurant which serves Filipino dishes to the Brazilian public.

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PHL EMBASSY IN MEXICO PARTICIPATES IN FERIA DE ACTOPAN

10 July 2015 - The Philippine Embassy in Mexico, led by Ambassador Catalino R. Dilem, Jr., participated in the Feria de Actopan, a cultural event organized by the PPRE government of Actopan, Hidalgo State, to commemorate the founding of the city. This annual festival aims to enrich the knowledge of the people of Actopan about the culture and traditions of other countries, and also to promote Actopan to residents of Mexico.

The city of Actopan is located 125 kilometers north of Mexico City, and only 37 kilometers from Pachuca, the state capital of Hidalgo. The area, which had already been occupied by various indigenous groups since 674 A.C., was formally founded as a city in 1546 under Spain. Actopan is widely known for its gastronomic culture, as well as the temple and former convent of San Nicolas de Tolentino, one of the most famous historical sites in the state of Hidalgo.

The Embassy personnel, along with their families and some members of the Filipino community in Mexico, presented a one-hour program showcasing Philippine culture and traditions at the grounds of the Temple of San Nicolas de Tolentino.

Highlights of the program included a recreation of Bacolod’s “Masskara” festival, with street dancers wearing the iconic “smiling” masks. The program also featured Philippine folk dances such as the binasuan, banga and karatong-subli, choreographed by Filipino community member Ms.Opalyn Dela Cruz Ceron and with the participation of Filipino community members Mr. Josh Viernes and Ms. Al Abao-Vega.

Consular Attaché Fernando Carillo, Jr. delivered an interpretation of popular Filipino love song “Dahil Sa ‘Yo,”  while Embassy receptionist  Ms. Bernadeth Ablay rendered songs in Filipino (Para Sa Akin) and Spanish (Mis Sentimientos). Ms. Georgina Aranzabal, the Embassy’s interpreter/translator, sang “Si Nos Dejan,” a Mexican love song.