PHILIPPINE EMBASSY ATTENDS 8th PISTANG PILIPINO AND MISS PHILIPPINES-LEBANON 2013
13 December 2013 - Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz led Embassy, Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) officers and staff in attending the Eighth Pistang Pilipino and Ms. Philippines-Lebanon 2013 organized by the Filipino Cultural Guild (FCG), a Filipino community association in Lebanon on December 9. There were qw Filipino candidates who competed for the title.
In her inspirational message, Ambassador Ruiz congratulated the organizers of the beauty pageant and also thanked the sponsor, OMT Western Union, for its untiring support of the FCG. She noted that, for Filipinos, December is the time not only for Christmas celebrations but also for reflection, prayer and thanksgiving.
She commended the Filipino organizations, including FCG, for once again uniting to assist the victims of recent calamities in the Philippines. Ambassador Ruiz also highlighted the Embassys efforts to forge a stronger relationship between the Philippines and Lebanon and to improve the working conditions of Filipino workers in this country.
Local Filipino singers opened the competition by taking turns in entertaining the audience. The candidates introduced themselves wearing Filipiniana attire, followed by the talent, evening gown and Q&A competitions. Raffle prizes courtesy of OMT Western Union were also given to the lucky attendees. Ms. Jecilyn Palangan was crowned Ms. Philippines-Lebanon 2013, First Runner-up and Ms. Luzon is Jessly Asseret, Second Runner-up and Ms. Visayas is Ms. Jennifer Benitez, and Ms. Mila Palingayan placed Third Runner-up and Ms. Mindanao.
Past Ms. Philippines-Lebanon title holders also graced the event. FCG expressed its appreciation to the sponsor as well as to the Filipino community and Lebanese friends for their support. The colorful and lively event was featured in the December 03, 2013 issue of The Daily Star, the only English newspaper in Lebanon, which is circulated nationwide.
