The Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen successfully celebrated the 118th Anniversary of Philippine Independence with the Filipino community in Fujian and Jiangxi provinces on 19 June 2016 held at the Consulate General’s grounds with the support of the Filipino Association in Xiamen (FAX) and the Filipinos in China (FINCH), Filipino organizations both based in Fujian Province.
Post’s hosting of FilCom Day co-incided with the 155th birth anniversary of our National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. The date was arranged with local authorities in view of the high school entrance examinations in a nearby school during previous weekends.
More than 200 OFWs and guests attended the event that commenced with a mass service in the morning officiated by Father Joseph and was followed by a brief formal program with the reading of the messages of H.E. Benigno Simeon Aquino III and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Rene Almendras. The whole day event included the unveiling of a new Rizal bust (courtesy of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts) at the Consulate General’s Sentro Rizal (Bulwagang Bagumbayan), film showing of Jose Rizal: The Movie, a salu-salo lunch, parlor games and entertainment numbers from Filipino musicians.
In his National Day remarks, Consul General Flores underscored that the event was an opportunity for the Filipinos in Fujian and Jiangxi provinces to rekindle their unity, patriotism and nationhood within the context of this year’s chosen theme, “Kalayaan 2016: Pagkakaisa, Pag-aambagan, Pagsulong”.
He also took the opportunity to remind the OFWs to continue observing the laws of the host country, take precautions to ensure their personal safety and avoid being involved in illegal activities.
Despite the late date of festivities, there was an excellent turn-out from among the Filipino community, OFWs (many from Quanzhou/Jingjiang/Shishi area) as well as students (mostly from Huaqiao University). END
