20 June 2016 - The Philippine Embassy and the Filipino community in Lebanon joined hands in celebrating the 118th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence during the 2016 Philippine Independence Day Festival held at the grounds of St. Joseph Church, Tabaris on Sunday, June 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The event started with the traditional Flag Ceremony at 10:00 a.m., followed by the concelebrated Holy Mass at 10:30 a.m., traditional Filipino food tasting at 12:00 noon and a Cultural Show at 1:00 p.m. Independence Day Messages were read after the Flag Ceremony: President Benigno S. Aquino III, read by Philippine Ambassador to Beirut Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz; Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jose Rene D. Almendras, read by Vice Consul Enrik Fort Revillas; Secretary of Labor and Employment Rosalinda Baldoz, read by Labor Attaché Bulyok Nilong; Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Rebecca Calzado, read by OWWA Assistant Levin Gabutan.
The St. Joseph Church was filled with at least 800 mass attendees including the mass celebrants and spiritual advisers of the Filipino community: Rev. Fr. Martin McDermott SJ, Parish Priest of St. Joseph Church in Tabaris and Coordinator of the Afro-Asian Migrant Centre based in the church; Rev. Fr. Theo Vlugt SJ, Parish Priest of St. Elie Church in Antelias; Rev. Fr. Francis Koussaifi, Parish Priest of St. Francis Church in Hamra; Rev. Fr. Agustin Advincula CM, Miraculous Medal Church in Sassine; Rev. Fr. Elie Daou, Patriarchal Vicariate of Sarba; Rev. Fr. Mark George SJ; Rev. Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ, and Rev. Fr. Binoy Mandapathil SJ.
More than a thousand people attended the Food and Cultural Festival, including hundreds of Filipino workers, as well as representatives from Lebanese non-government organizations, educational institutions, and the regular church parishioners.
The Cultural Festival featured Original Pilipino Music (OPM) compositions sung by Mr. Remigio Guiling (“May Bukas Pa”) and Ms. Angeline Dador (“Dakilang Lahi”). The audience greatly appreciated the performance of the Couples for Christ Lebanon chapter who energetically sang the traditional Tagalog folk song entitled “Kalesa.” Several Filipino community organizations lent their talented members to perform traditional ethnic and folk dances: “Zamboanga,” “T’boli,” “Polkabal,” “Pangalay,” and “La Jota Moncadeña.”
In her speech, Ambassador Basinang-Ruiz praised the Lebanese sponsors, BoB Finance-Western Union and Emirates Airlines, for making the event possible and also commended the Filipino community organizations for their all-out participation and cooperation. She awarded a plaque and a certificate of appreciation to the sponsors. In recognition of the valuable assistance and support given to the Embassy and the Filipino Community by the spiritual advisers, she also presented a plaque of appreciation each to Rev. Fr. Theo Vlugt SJ, Rev. Fr. Martin McDermott SJ, and Rev. Fr. Francis Koussaifi O.F.M. Cap.
The last event of the festival was the raffle draw that netted a winner of one Emirates round-trip ticket to the Philippines and ten winners of individual BoB Finance-Western Union $100 cash prizes. As a token of its deep appreciation, Ambassador Ruiz also awarded certificates of appreciation to the participants of the Food Festival and Cultural Show. END
