11 June 2023 - The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon commemorated the 125th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and the National Migrant Workers’ Day through a special flag-raising ceremony followed by cultural presentations and provisions of government services entitled, One-Stop Shop OFW Services, held on 11 June 2023 at the Collège du Sacré Coeur in Gemmayze, Beirut.

Photos: (Left photo) Ambassador Raymond R. Balatbat (center) with the Embassy, MWO, and OWWA personnel (Right) Embassy personnel group photo with the Filipino Community in Lebanon after the special flag ceremony. (Photos and videos courtesy of Beirut PE and Summer Rain Channel)

The celebration commenced with a thanksgiving mass officiated by Fr. Agustin Advincula, a Filipino priest, with Fr. Daniel Corrou. It was followed by a special flag ceremony and the reading of the Philippine Independence Day messages of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo.

Photos: (Left) Holy mass at the Sacré Coeur church; (Right) Ambassador Balatbat delivers his Independence Day message during the flag ceremony.

Ambassador Raymond R. Balatbat welcomed the guests and representatives from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and Social Security System (SSS). In his message, he highlighted the importance of commemorating the hard-fought battles of our ancestors for Philippine independence and the similar sacrifices of OFWs-the country’s modern-day heroes. Ambassador Balatbat also emphasized the benefits of the recent agreement between the Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Trade and Industry which will help OFWs start and maintain their own businesses.

Mr. Lemuel T. Untalan, Vice President of the Member Management Group at PhilHealth and Mr. Michael D. Ingal of SSS Jeddah discussed the services to be offered  to Filipinos in Lebanon by their respective agencies.

Photos: (Left) Philhealth VP, Mr. Lemuel T. Untaland; (Right) SSS Jeddah representative, Mr. Michael D. Ingal

More than 800 Filipino nationals attended the program and availed of the government services. Aside from PhilHealth and SSS services, the Embassy offered the following: consular services (e.g. passport, civil registration, visa, authentication, notarial), overseas voting registration, Balik-Manggagawa/contract verification, OWWA membership and payment, Assistance-to-Nationals and legal consultations, medical and mental health services, and GAD promotional activities.

 Photos: Filipino nationals in Lebanon line up for mobile services.

To end the morning program, Ms. Rosebel M. Pono, a Filipino migrant worker in Lebanon sang her version of Samut-Saring Iisa, the official theme song of the 125th Philippine Independence Day celebration. The induction ceremony of the newly-registered Filipino Community groups and the opening of mobile frontline services were done simultaneously.

While the mobile services were underway, the Filipino Community groups performed various Philippine folk dances and songs. The raffle draw winners were announced after each cultural presentation.

Photos: (Left) Ms. Rosebel M. Pono sings Samut-Saring Iisa, the official theme song of the 125th Philippine Independence Day celebration (Right) FilCom group performs folk dance

 Photos: Ambassador Raymond R. Balatbat, Vice Consuls Miko Cabatingan and Glaiza Quarteros, and Labor Attache Alejandro Padaen present the prizes to the raffle winners.

The Embassy aims to organize cultural activities that integrate frontline services such as consular, ATN, and labor-related services as well as gender and development and medical and mental health services for Filipinos in Lebanon, in consideration of the ongoing economic crisis in the country.

The 125th Celebration of Philippine Independence and Nationhood 2023-2026 is a multi-year commemoration. It highlights milestones from the proclamation of the Philippine Independence on 12 June 1898 until the end of the first Filipino government on 23 March 1901. The theme of this multi-year commemoration is Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan. The theme reminds us of the struggle of our forebears to gain freedom for our nation’s future which shaped our history. END

12 June 2023 - The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon commemorates the 125th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.