RP starts Independence Day activities in Saudi, US

With the country’s 112th Independence Day just a week away, Filipinos abroad have started celebrating the important occasion. In Saudi Arabia, month-long celebrations began last Thursday with an international financial literacy briefing held at the lobby of the Philippine Embassy there. “The financial literacy briefing is part of this year’s celebration which is geared toward reflecting the Filipino identity as well as customs and traditions," Philippine Ambassador Antonio Villamor said in a report posted on online news site Arab News Friday. Other activities marking the occasion include a photo exhibit at the embassy’s Mabini Hall. On June 11, a sports and food festival will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. “In keeping with projecting the Filipino identity as the main thrust of the celebration, native games will be played instead of basketball and volleyball," said Vice Consul Roussel Reyes, coordinator of the event. Aside from these, native Filipino dishes will be available to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) longing for home cooking. On Independence Day itself, the embassy will hold a flag-raising ceremony at its Liwasang Bonifacio Multipurpose court. A “Konsiyerto ng Kalayaan" (Freedom Concert) will be held in the evening. Other activities include a film-showing on June 18; an oratorical contest on June 24; and a “Filipino Community Night" at the Riyadh Palace Hotel on June 25. Celebrations in Jeddah In Jeddah, the Consulate General started its celebration as early as May 27 with a tennis tournament that will run until June 11. Consul Leo Tito Ausan Jr. said other activities include a photo and painting exhibit, Migrant Worker’s Day, a tennis tournament, a workshop on protocol and social graces, “Araw ng Watawat" (Flag Day), “Pinoy Fashionista," and a concert in Yanbu. Exhibits in the US In the United States, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said activities include a series of exhibits in Washington D.C. and a food festival in San Francisco. “The exhibits, showcasing Filipino artistry, craftsmanship and heritage, (kicked) off this June beginning with the launch of ‘Brown Strokes on a White Canvas,’ which features paintings by more than 20 Filipino and Filipino-American artists from the community," the DFA said, citing a report from the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. Now on its seventh year, “Brown Strokes on a White Canvas" is presented by the Embassy in partnership with the Philippine American Foundation for Charities, Inc. For this year, it was launched June 1 and will run until June 8. Chicago-based visual artist Paul Balan will meanwhile launch his exhibit “Lupang Hinirang" on June 10, to be opened to the public from June 11 to 17. Lupang Hinirang Series 1 through 10 is a visual representation of the lyrics of the Philippine National Anthem. Consisting of 10 24-by-18 pen and ink compositions, the works highlight the virtues of courage, pride, honor, duty and love of motherland that inspired Filipinos in their quest for independence and greater peace, progress and prosperity. An Associate Artist for the United States Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program, Balan hails from Paete, a town known for its sculptors, painters, musicians and poets. He is a descendant of Pablo Bague, one of Paete’s master sculptors. Similarly, capping the month will be the exhibit of stoneware potter Hadrian Mendoza entitled “Carabao," which will be launched on June 18 and will run until June 30. Named after the Philippines’ water buffalo, the exhibit shows three dimensional works evoking Philippine symbols and icons, including the carabao. Mendoza is a graduate of Mary Washington College in Virginia and was a former student of Washington, D.C.’s Corcoran School of Art where he was awarded the prestigious Anne and Arnold Abramson Award for Excellence in Ceramics. He recently received and completed the 2007-2009 Toyota Foundation Grant: “Asian Neighbors Network Program: Unlocking Southeast Asia’s Potential. Food fest in San Francisco A Philippine Food Festival was also launched at the Philippine Center in downtown San Francisco on May 20. The event was a kick-off activity for the month-long culinary festival, the DFA said. The DFA said the festival showcased the best Philippine cuisine from among 15 participating restaurants in Northern California in June. “The Philippines is well-known for its world-class cuisine. The variety of famous Filipino foods is reflective of our people’s diversity as well as creativity which emanates from our culture and history," Consul General Marciano Paynor Jr. said. Participating restaurants included Bistro Luneta, Boracay Garden Grill and Asian Cuisine, Goldilocks, House of Sisig, Intramuros, Jollibee, Kalesa, Mana, Nayong Pilipino, Max’s of Manila, Ongpin, Patio Filipino, Red Ribbon, Tastebuds, and Tribu Grill. Diners in these restaurants are expected to win prizes and gift items, including those whose photos of their favorite dish will be posted in the Philippine Food Festival Facebook page. Former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos, who was on a 10-day visit to the United States, also endorsed the Philippine Food Festival during his recent visit to the Bay Area, the DFA said. - Jerrie Abella/KBK, GMANews.TV