Philippine Embassy Celebrates Philippine Independence Day 2015

 

Ambassador Jose D.R. Burgos delivers his 117th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence Message before the guests.

Brasilia - Philippine Ambassador to Brazil, Jose D.R. Burgos, led the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Brasilia, members of the Filipino community and special guests in commemorating the 117th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence on 11 and 14 June 2015 in Brasilia, Brazil.

About 300 guests, including officials from the Brazilian Government, the Ministry of External Relations and members of the diplomatic corps, attended the dinner reception on 11 June 2015 at the Clube da Aeronáutica in Brasilia.

Philippine Honorary Consuls General Mr. Sergio Kano (Recife), Dr. Romulo Melo Mene (Rio de Janeiro), Dr. Celso Martins Pimentel (Vitoria) and Mr. Francisco Rodrigues da Silva Filho (Manaus) joined Ambassador Burgos and the Embassy officials in receiving the guests.

Following this year's theme: "Tagumpay sa Pagbabagong Nasimulan, Abot-Kamay na ng Bayan (Triumphs through Reforms, Within Nation`s Reach)" Ambassador Burgos spoke about the accomplishments of the present "Daang Matuwid" or Right Path administration of H.E. President Benigno S. Aquino III which made the Philippines one of the fastest growing economies in Asia and brought significant developments to the Filipino Nation especially in helping the poor, fight hunger and disease, and send more children to school, among others.

The Guest of Honor was Ambassador Jose Alfredo Graça Lima, Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs II of the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil. Undersecretary Graça Lima in his speech highlighted the cordial relations between Brazil and the Philippines over the years and reiterated Brazil's desire to become an ASEAN Dialogue Partner.

Following the tradition of previous National Day celebrations, the guests were served with Filipino delicacies during the dinner which followed the program. For desserts, the Philippine Embassy served halo-halo with ube ice cream on coconut buco, which became an instant hit among the guests.

The guests were also entertained by a cultural show featuring Filipino songs by Ms. Junafe Rama, a Filipina missionary from the nearby state of Goias, and Mr. Danilo Arantes, a Brazilian member of the Filipino religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name. Ladies from the Filipino community performed the "Salakot" dance while Master Herbert Inocalla and his Brazilian students from the Academia Maharlika (Maharlika Gym) did a demonstration of Filipino martial arts and "Tinikling."

On Sunday, 14 June 2015, a flag-raising ceremony was held at the Philippine Embassy followed by a sports festival among Filipinos in Brasilia and their families. More than 50 participants competed in badminton, volleyball, "Pinoy Henyo," sack race, tug-of-war and relay race.

Medals and the championship trophy were awarded to the deserving winners by Ambassador Jose D.R. Burgos and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr. who was in Brazil to campaign as the Philippine candidate for the post of Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization.

Both the formal reception and sports festival were covered by Philippine media organization UNTV.

Ambassador Jose D.R. Burgos with wife, Dra. Blesilda M. Burgos, receiving Ambassador Jose Alfredo Graça Lima, Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs II of the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil during the 117th Independence Day Dinner Reception on 11 June 2015.

L-R: Consul General Celso Martins Pimentel, Mrs. Maria Adelina Shuamba, Consul General Sergio Kano, Consul General Francisco Rodrigues da Silva Filho, Consul General Romulo Melo Mene, Ambassador Burgos, Dra. Blesilda Mansilla Burgos and Mrs. Dayse de Souza Lima Mene.

Amb. Jose Alfredo Graça Lima, Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs II, talks about the cordial relations between Brazil and the Philippines during the117th Independence Day Dinner Reception on 11 June 2015 at the Clube da Aeronáutica in Brasilia.

Ambassador Jose D.R. Burgos and Undersecretary Jose Alfredo Graça Lima do the ceremonial toast during the Dinner Reception of the 117th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence on 11 June 2015.


A photo of some of the 300 guests who attended the dinner reception on 11 June 2015 at the Clube da Aeronáutica in Brasilia.

Ambassador and Dra. Burgos with the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Brasilia take a photo during the Dinner Reception of the 117th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence on 11 June 2015 at the Salão Náutio, Clube da Aeronáutica, Brasilia.

Philippine news organization UNTV interviews Undersecretary Jose Alfredo Graça Lima of the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil during the celebration of the 117th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.

 

L-R: Ms. Rosamari F. Candido, Interpreter/Translator and Political and Economic Assistant of the Philippine Embassy in Brasilia, the Ambassador's spouse, Dra. Blesilda Mansilla Burgos and one of the winners of the raffle draw during the 117th Independence Day dinner reception on 11 June 2015.

Members of the Filipino Association of Brazil perform the Salakot Dance.

Ambassador Jose D.R. Burgos leads the Filipino Ccommunity and guests during the Flag-Raising Ceremony on 14 June 2015 at the Philippine Embassy premises in Brasilia.

Ambassador Jose D.R. Burgos reads the Independence Day Message of President Benigno S. Aquino III during the Flag-Raising Ceremony on 14 June 2015 at Brasilia PE`s premises.

Third Secretary and Vice Consul Eric P. Valenzuela reads the National Day Message of Secretary Albert F. del Rosario during the Flag-Raising Ceremony on 14 June 2015 at the Philippine Embassy premises in Brasilia.

Members of the Filipino Community and the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Brasilia compete in volleyball and other games during the Sportsfest 2015 to commemorate the 117th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence at Embassy multi-sports court.

 

Members of the Blue and Yellow Teams engage in a tug-of-war during the Sportsfest 2015 to commemorate the 117th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence at the Philippine Embassy, Brasilia premises on 14 June 2015.

 

Members of the White, Yellow, Red and Blue Teams participate in the sack race during Sportsfest 2015 as part of the 117th Independence Day activities at Brasilia PE's premises on 14 June 2015.

Members of the White Team receive their medals and trophy as Over-all Champion of Sportsfest 2015 from Ambassador Jose D.R. Burgos (wearing yellow shirt) and visiting MARINA Administrator Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr. (wearing red shirt).

Group photo at the Awarding and Closing Ceremonies of the Sportsfest 2015 to commemorate the 117th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence at Brasilia PE's premises on 14 June 2015.