PHILCONGEN XIAMEN, FILIPINOS IN FUJIAN FÊTE KALAYAAN 2014
- Right Photo: Consul General Flores reads the Independence Day Message of H.E. President Benigno S. Aquino, Jr.
- Middle Photo: Filipinos across Fujian sing the Philippine national anthem to formally mark the celebration of Kalayaan 2014.
- Left Photo: Filipinos from all over Fujian province converge at the compound of the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen to celebrate the 116th Anniversary of Philippine Independence, filled with singing, dancing, games, raffle prizes and good food.
Part of its month-long celebration of the 116th Anniversary of Philippine Independence, the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen in cooperation with the Filipino Association in Xiamen (FAX) held the Filipino community celebration of Kalayaan 2014 the whole day of Sunday, 15 June 2014 at the Consulate General premises.
The Consulate General’s front courtyard was transformed into a fiesta venue complete with tents, “banderitas” and festive music. The occasion served as a get-together for Consulate General personnel and their families, Filipino students, entertainers, teachers, office staff, skilled workers, technical personnel and business executives living within the Consulate General’s jurisdiction. Filipinos from Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Shishi and other areas all converged in the compound of the Consulate General for this once-a-year festive gathering.
The celebration commenced with a Roman Catholic Mass service followed by the singing of the Philippine national anthem led by Consul General Julius Caesar A. Flores. The Consul General also read the Independence Day message of H.E. President Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. while the massage from Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario was read by Consul Ambrosio Enciso III.
In his own welcome remarks to the gathering, the Consul General thanked everyone for celebrating this significant event with their fellow “kababayans”. He lauded the community leaders for their continued and invaluable support of the Consulate General’s programs and activities.
The Consul General then reminded everyone of the continuing registration/certification of Overseas Voting for the 2016 National Elections. He also exhorted all Filipinos to follow local laws and be paragons of a good overseas Filipino while urging everyone to remain vigilant and avoid getting involved in the sale and trafficking of illegal narcotics.
Messages were also delivered by the presidents of the FAX and FINCH (Filipinos in Quanzhou China).
A simple pananghalian and merienda were served to all attendees.
The afternoon was filled with dancing and music courtesy of Filipino entertainers based in Xiamen. The merrymaking was made even more enjoyable with fun games and raffle draws for prizes given to lucky participants. The grand prize was a round trip ticket for the Xiamen-Manila-Xiamen route courtesy of Philippine Airlines Xiamen. END.
