On the occasion of the 126th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, the Philippine Embassy in Brussels, Belgium hosted a reception for the Diplomatic Corps on 14 June 2024 at the Club Prince Albert in Brussels.

The Philippine Embassy in Brussels, Belgium during the diplomatic reception on the occasion of the 126th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, Brussels, 14 June 2024.

Director-General for Bilateral Affairs Jeroen Cooreman and Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda during the diplomatic reception on the occasion of the 126th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, Brussels, 14 June 2024.

In his remarks, Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda highlighted the achievements of Filipinos in Belgium and the Philippine government’s engagement with its partners through such diplomatic efforts as the Philippines-Belgium Joint Plan of Action, Philippines-EU Subcommittee Meetings on Maritime Cooperation and Human Rights, and the resumption of talks on the Philippines-EU Free Trade Agreement.

Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda gives a speech and toast during the diplomatic reception on the occasion of the 126th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, Brussels, 14 June 2024.

Mr. Jeroen Cooreman, Director-General for Bilateral Affairs of the Federal Public Service – Foreign Affairs of Belgium, congratulated Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda and the Filipino nation on the occasion and underscored Belgium’s continuing support for the Philippines.

Director-General Jeroen Cooreman gives a speech and toast during the diplomatic reception on the occasion of the 126th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, Brussels, 14 June 2024.

The short program was capped with a rousing and well-received rendition by Mr. Cipriano de Guzman, internationally acclaimed opera singer and music educator based in Luxembourg, Ms. Janine Santos, former member of the Mabuhay Singers who specializes in the kundiman, of the following songs: “La ci darem la mano” from the opera Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, “All I Ask of You” from the musical The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and “Makikiliti Ka” from the sarswela Walang Sugat by playwright Severinio Reyes and composer Fulgencio Tolentino.

Mr. Cipriano de Guzman and Ms. Janine Santos perform “Makikiliti Ka” from the sarswela Walang Sugat during the diplomatic reception on the occasion of the 126th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, Brussels, 14 June 2024.