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PHL CONSULATE GENERAL IN SYDNEY LEADS COMMEMORATION OF THE 153^rd BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF RIZAL

23 July 2015 - The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney, in cooperation with the Order of the Knights of Rizal (OKOR) and the Rizal Park Movement of Campbelltown, undertook activities to commemorate the 153^rd Birth Anniversary of Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal on 19 June 2015.

The day began with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony held at the bust of Dr. Jose Rizal at the Plaza Ibero-Americana in Sydney. Consul General Anne Jalando-on Louis, Consul Marford Angeles and Consular Assistant Fidel Simeon joined the officers of the Order of the Knights of Rizal (OKOR) - Sydney Chapter, led by its Commander, Mr. Ralph Posadas, Filipino community leaders, and Philippine media representatives in braving the rains for the ceremony. Mr. Angel Raña, OKOR Regional Commander for Australia, New Zealand and Oceania welcomed the attendees while Mr. Cesar Bartolome, OKOR Area Commander for East Australia, read Rizal’s letter to his sister, Soledad, advising her to always live honorably to honor their parents and the land of their birth.

At noon, the Rizal Park Movement of Campbelltown (RPMC) headed by Mr. Rey Manoto organized a wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument, Rizal Park in Campbelltown City, New South Wales (NSW). Mr. Manoto spoke of the commitment of RPMC to keep Rizal’s memory alive through activities at the park named after the hero.

In her message at the above events, Consul General Louis lauded the efforts of the OKOR and the RPMC in commemorating Dr. Jose Rizal’s birth and death anniversaries, and expressed hope that they will continue to spread awareness of Rizal’s life, his teachings and his patriotism not only among the members of the Filipino community in NSW, but also within the local community.

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PHL EMBASSY, FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN WELLINGTON CELEBRATE 117 YEARS OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE

03 July 2015 - Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Virginia H. Benavidez led the Flag-Hoisting Ceremony on June 12 at the Embassy Chancery in Wellington, New Zealand.  A traditional ceremony held on the Philippines’ Independence Day, the Philippine Embassy joined all Filipinos in commemorating the Proclamation of Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite 117 years ago.

Ambassador Benavidez read the Independence Day Message of President Benigno S. Aquino III, while Consul General Arlene Gonzales-Macaisa read the message of Vice President Jejomar C. Binay. Third Secretary and Vice Consul Glenn Joseph Q. Obach shared the message of Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Affairs Albert F. del Rosario.

On the same day, Ambassador Benavidez and Embassy personnel with their families attended the gala performance of the nationally and internationally famous and award-winning Loboc Children’s Choir (LCC) of the Philippines at the Pipitea Marae in Wellington. The event drew more than 600 guests from the Filipino, New Zealand and other communities who were enthralled and enchanted by the angelic voices of the LCC.

The Wellington Filipino Community Choir (WFCC) started the evening as they led in the singing of the Philippine and New Zealand National Anthems.  Ambassador Benavidez gave her message of appreciation to the Filipino community and the guests who supported the concert of the LCC and highlighted the significance of the 117^th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence. She thanked the guest-of-honour, Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, who addressed the guests on this momentous event. Mayor Celia Wade-Brown congratulated the Philippines on its national day and spoke on the importance of New Zealand’s relations with the Philippines and the contributions of the Filipino community in Wellington. She expressed her admiration for the internationally-acclaimed Loboc Children’s Choir.

The LCC mesmerized the audience with its wide-varying repertoire, with songs such as “Salve Regina,” “When You Believe,” “Imagine,” and the medley version of “Sound of Music.” The LCC also sang Filipino and Visayan songs such as “Inday Pamutus Na,” “Larong Pinoy,” and “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan,” much to the delight and excitement of the members of the Filipino community present in the audience.

The LCC was joined by the Wellington Young Voices (WYV), headed by its Music Director, Ms.  Christine Argyle, for a couple of songs during the concert. The two groups sang “The Prayer,” “Look at the World,” the traditional New Zealand love song “Pokarekare Ana” and “Thank you for the Music.” The WYV was also given the opportunity to have the stage by themselves, as they sang “Can You Hear Me,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” and “I’m Hooked.” 

The kids of the NZ Filifest Cultural Dance Group and Ms. Gabrielle Cabauatan also performed during the evening. Ms. Cabauatan showcased her tap-dancing skills as she interpreted the song “Ako Ay Pilipino” while the NZ Filifest Cultural Dance Group demonstrated the Philippine indigenous dances of “Maglalatik” and “Tinolang Manok.”

As the LCC sang the finale “Sister Act Medley,” the Pipitea Marae was filled with never ending rounds of applause and encore for the truly captivating and meaningful evening of music, culture, and world-class Filipino talents. Many of the Filipinos in the audience were moved to tears as they felt proud to be Filipinos and inspired by the impressive cultural performances of the Philippines’ most loved and much treasured Loboc Children’s Choir.

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PHL EMBASSY IN PORT MORESBY CELEBRATES 117^th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROCLAMATION OF PHL INDEPENDENCE

03 July 2015 - The Philippine Embassy in Port Moresby kicked off its celebration of the 117^th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence with a diplomatic reception at the Philippine Residence grounds on June 11. Guests who graced the reception were lead by Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Rimbink Pato OBE, Minister for Public Enterprise and State Investment Ben Micah, Minister for Finance James Marape, Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry Richard Maru, Secretary of Foreign Affairs William Dihm, and Chief of Protocol Jimmy Ovia. The Diplomatic Corps, the heads of the United Nations (UN) missions in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Filipino and PNG captains of industry, and leaders of the Filipino community in Port Moresby were also in attendance.

The guests were treated to a night of Philippine culture – a cultural presentation of songs and dances prepared by the Filipino community, traditional Filipino cuisine, and the warm Filipino hospitality.

On June 12, the Embassy held its flag raising ceremony with the Filipino community in Port Moresby in attendance. Philippine Consul General Pablito A. Mendoza read the Independence Day messages of Vice President Jejomar C. Binay and Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario. Philipine Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Bienvenido V. Tejano read the Independence Day message of President Benigno S. Aquino III.  The Embassy and the Filipino community then partook of a traditional Filipino agahan of pan de sal, kape, pansit, and kakanin.

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PHL EMBASSY IN PORT MORESBY STARTS 2015 CONSULAR OUTREACH PROGRAM

03 July 2015 - The Philippine Embassy in Port Moresby, as part of its delivery of consular services to Filipinos in Papua New Guinea and in time with the celebration of the 117^th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, commenced its 2015 consular outreach program with a mission to Lae, Morobe Province from May 30 to 31, led by Philippine Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Bienvenido V. Tejano. During the mission, the Embassy processed 51 passport applications, accepted 24 overseas voters registered, and fielded several consular queries.

The Embassy is coordinating with the Filipino communities in the other cities and towns in Papua New Guinea and with the Filipino community in Honiara, Solomon Islands to schedule consular missions in these places this year.

The Embassy also opened consular services and overseas voting registration during the Independence Day 2015 celebrations of the Filipino Association of Papua New Guinea (FAPNG) in Port Moresby on June 28.

Ambassador Tejano joined the mission to visit several Filipinos who were involved in a helicopter accident a few days before the mission was scheduled to arrive in Lae. All four Filipinos survived the accident with minor injuries.