GOVPH

Pit Senyor! PH Embassy Joins the Filipino Catholic Community of Antwerp in Celebrating the Sinulog Festival

The Philippine Embassy in Brussels, together with the Filipino Catholic Community of Antwerp, paid homage to the Sto. Niño in ithe latter's Sinulog Festival 2024 on 21 January 2024 at the Sint Bartholomeuskerk in Merksem, Antwerp.

Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda, Deputy Chief of Mission Pablito A. Mendoza, Cultural Attaché Virginia T. Abad, Administrative Officer Russell M. Villegas, and Attaché Violeta D. Bautista were present during the festivities, as well as Philippine Honorary Consul in Flanders Ronny de Blaere.

Mr. Stijn De Rooster, Cabinet Adviser of Antwerp Mayor Bart De Weber, Ms. Paula Simons, Merksem Board Member, and Ms. Imelda Lamigan, Merksem District Councilor, represented the Antwerp and Merksem local governments.

Philippine Embassy Commemorates the 127th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal

The Philippine Embassy in Brussels and the Knights of Rizal Belgium, together with the Las Damas de Rizal and the Kababaihang Rizalista, commemorate the 127th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal on 30 December 2023. Flowers were offered at the bust of the National Hero in the Chancery garden, followed by a short program and fellowship.

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY PARTICIPATES IN THE SYMPOSIUM ON THE MANILA GALLEON AND TORNAVIAJE: THE FIRST CONNECTION EUROPE-AMERICA-ASIA

Brussels, 7 December 2023 - Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda was guest speaker at the symposium on “The Manila Galleon and the Tornaviaje: the first connection Europe-America-Asia”. 

Coinciding with the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU (June - December 2023), the cultural association of Rapid Alert System-Heroes de Cavite (RAS-HdC), together with other associations and civil society organizations, the symposium is part of a series of historical-cultural activities aimed at presenting the past and the current history of Spain connected with Europe and Hispanic America.

Quoting Nick Joaquin, National Artist for Literature and one of our most celebrated writers, Ambassador Ledda said, “As the entrepot between Asia and the West, Manila became the number one city in the Orient in the galleon days. Philippine agriculture, commerce, and industry were enriched and advanced by the Manila Galleon. Epochal enough was the transfer of Western flora and fauna to the Philippines. Even more epochal was the transfer of Western technology, with the galleons serving, literally, as vessels and media. It was on the Manila galleon that the Philippines began to become the Philippines.”

The event, attended by 50 guests, was followed by a reception, which included Filipino dishes, calamansi juice, and mango desserts provided by the Philippine Agricultural Office in Brussels.