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PHL EMBASSY IN MANAMA COMMEMORATES DR. JOSE P. RIZAL’S 153^RD BIRTH ANNIVERSARY

25 June 2014 - The Philippine Embassy in Bahrain and the Order of the Knights of Rizal (OKOR) - Bahrain Chapter held a wreath laying ceremony and program in commemoration of the 153^rd Birth Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal on June 19 at the Embassy. Embassy personnel, members of OKOR and students of the Philippine School Bahrain (PSB) attended the commemorative event.

During the program, students of the Philippine School Bahrain (PSB) offered a wreath before the bust of Dr. Rizal. OKOR member Mr. Jaime C. Romero led the invocation while the Code of Ethics and Pledge to the Flag was led by OKOR member Mr. Francis Fellone. OKOR Chapter Commander Mr. Alberto M. Quinto delivered the welcome remarks. OKOR Middle East and Africa Regional Commander Mr. Zane Thirlwall delivered a message to OKOR member. OKOR Chapter Archivist Adoniram Gabuna gave the closing remarks.

In his inspirational message during the program, Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain Sahid S. Glang stressed the importance of learning and living the ideals, values, and teachings of Dr. Rizal as a way of honoring our national hero, and as a guide to the Filipinos’ continuing quest for nationhood and development.

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SCHAFFHAUSEN COMMEMORATES RIZAL’S 153^RD BIRTHDAY  WITH PAINTING EXHIBITION

24 June 2014 - Schaffhausen, the first city that Dr. Jose Rizal visited in Switzerland during his brief sojourn in the alpine country in June 1887, commemorated the 153^rd birth anniversary of the Philippine national hero on June 19 with a wreath-laying ceremony and a painting exhibition of the hero’s life and travels across Europe.


In his reply, Ambassador Baja, thanked the Schaffhausen officials present during the ceremony. “We are very fortunate to have good friends in Schaffhausen who have been part of this annual celebration of the life of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. Your untiring support, which guarantees the success of this annual celebration, is well and truly appreciated,” said Ambassador Baja.

The wreath-laying ceremony was followed by the opening of a painting exhibition entitled, “Filipinism – What Makes a Filipino?” at the Haus der Wirtschaft. The exhibit featured 16 of the final entries in the international painting competition, “The Life of Dr. Jose Rizal in Europe”.

Mr. Virgilio Cuizon, art impresario, explained that the paintings, which were chosen as finalists during the pre-judging event held in the Philippines in December 2013, will be judged by jurors from Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom during exhibition time.

In an interview by Mr. Marki Liebenberg, Regional Editor of Schaffhauser Nachrichten, Ambassador Baja explained, “We are bringing this exhibit to Switzerland as part of the roving exhibition to countries in Europe that Rizal visited when he was a student and active member of the Propaganda Movement. Each of the paintings had its own significance in the life of the young Rizal and his struggles to awaken Spain to the needs of the Philippines.”

The event was attended by around 100 guests, including the locals, tourists and members of the Filipino community in Schaffhausen and neighboring cantons of Zürich, Aargau, St. Gallen, and Winterthur. A number of Swiss-based Filipino artists were also present during the occasion.

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TRIPLE FRET CAPTIVATES SWISS AUDIENCE

25 June 2014 - Triple Fret, the only female classical-contemporary guitar trio in the Philippines, captivated Swiss audience with their repertoire of ethnic and traditional Filipino and international classical music at a concert held in Zürich on June 22. The concert was co-organized by Tuluyang Pinoy and the Philippine Catholic Mission, and attended by Embassy officials led by Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland Leslie Baja.

Marga Abejo, Iqui Vinculado, and Jenny de Vera - the three young, beautiful and talented Filipino ladies that make up Triple Fret – have their formal training at the University of the Philippines’ College of Music and University of Sto. Tomas’ Conservatory of Music. Their passion for and appreciation of the classical guitar led them to form what is now the only female classical-contemporary guitar trio in the country.

Formally launched in 2011, the group has since been performing in various prestigious gatherings such as the 3rd International Guitar Festival and the Philippine Pasinaya Festival both held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the 1st Philippine International Jazz and Blues Festival, the 6th Backdoor Ventures Arts and Music Festival, and the 2013 Fete de la Musique Manila. Their first solo concert at the Paco Park in Manila received rave reviews. Recently, they launched their debut album, Gitara Filipina, a celebration of music that encapsulates the Filipino musical tradition and colonial heritage.

At the end of their Zurich concert, both the Filipinos and Swiss audience alike expressed great admiration for the group, saying that they gave a refreshing take on classical and contemporary guitar music.