Pinoys in London mark PHL-British friendship day

Filipinos based in the United Kingdom (UK) marked the 11th Philippine-British Friendship Day in London last October 20. New Philippine Ambassador to Britain Enrique Manalo said the occasion is a reminder for Filipino and British nationals about the important links between the two nations. “With some 250,000 Filipinos now living in Britain and over 10,000 Britons in the Philippines, it is to be expected that such interaction will deepen in the future and help strengthen the overall bilateral ties," Manalo said. In a news release, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said this year’s activities mark the 11th time that the two countries marked Friendship Day to “celebrate, enhance and enrich the historical, political, economic and cultural ties that strongly bind" the Philippines and Britain. The first celebration was on December 7, 2000, as mandated under Presidential Proclamation 381. In 2008, it was changed to October 20 through Presidential Proclamation 1592. The DFA said a photo exhibit was mounted by Mamerto Mercado, the Embassy’s Welfare Officer, for the celebration of Philippine-British Friendship Day. Entitled “In the Eyes of a Filipino," the exhibition included 30 works that showcased Mercado’s artistic technique and showed his fascination with everyday British scenes. Pinoy Radio UK Meanwhile, on Philippine-British Friendship Day, Pinoy Radio UK also marked its second anniversary. Pinoy Radio UK Station Manager Sonny Laragan noted his group’s collaboration with the Embassy, especially in promoting consular services and government programs to Filipinos in Britain and a dozen other countries. The station, which can be accessed online at www.pinoyradiouk.com, features a live Embassy-focused program every Friday evening. Pinoy Radio UK Pinoy is a news and music station playing Original Pilipino Music (OPM) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is the first Filipino radio station online serving the Filipino community in the United Kingdom and neighboring countries in Europe. The station was created by Channel Philippines Network and the test broadcast started in late 2007. Pinoy Radio UK's broadcast studio is located in London. - VVP, GMA News