In commemoration of the 119th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, the Philippine Consulate General held a flag-raising ceremony and hosted a breakfast reception for the Filipino community and its partner organizations on 9 June 2017 at the Philippine Consulate General. This year’s Independence Day theme was “Kalayaan 2017: Pagbabagong Sama-samang Balikatin” (Change Shouldered Altogether).

Philippine Senator Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero, and his wife, Mrs. Love Marie Escudero, were the Guests of Honor at the event. A delegation from Taytay, Rizal, led by Mayor George Ricardo Gacula II, and Kauai Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho, were also the Guests of Honor at the event.

Following the flag-raising ceremony, Consul General Jamoralin, in her welcome remarks, encouraged the Filipino American community to continue to build on the heroism and selflessness of our forefathers in protecting our nationhood”. Speaking in Filipino, Senator Escudero, in his remarks, commended the Filipino’s sense of nationalism and pride, and exhorted them to continue loving the country and their fellow Filipinos whichever part of the  world they may find themselves in.

Consul General Jamoralin, Senator and Mrs. Escudero also led the laying of the lei (floral garland) ceremony at the bust of Dr. Jose Rizal.

The Independence Day message of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano was read during the program.  Student-members of the Rizalian Youth Council and KASAMA, the Philippine Studies Student Society at the University of Hawaii Leeward, under the direction of Dr. Raymund Liongson, professor of Asian and Philippine Studies at UH Leeward, also performed a special presentation narrating the history of the Philippine flag – from the time the Katipunan adopted a symbolic banner in 1892 to when Philippine Independence was proclaimed on June 12, 1898. The presentation was a rendition of our youth’s understanding of the historic flags that inspired and kindled the Filipinos’ sense of patriotism.

Around 120 guests partook of the Filipino-style breakfast prepared for the occasion. (END).