FILIPINOS IN MOROCCO CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY IN THE NEWLY RE-OPENED PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN RABAT

14 June 2021 – Philippine Ambassador to Morocco Leslie J. Baja, together with the leaders of the Filipino community, commemorated the 123rd Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence last Saturday, 12 June 2021, the first celebration hosted in the chancery by the Embassy ever since it re opened in December 2019.

From L-R: Third Secretary and Vice Consul Monera Fatima Siriban, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Bea Antonio, Ambassador Leslie J. Baja, Consul General Maria Agnes Cervantes, and Labor Attaché Dominador Salanga

Taking into account COVID-19 restrictions, only leaders of various associations from Rabat,Casablanca, Marrakech, and Tangier attended the celebration starting with a flag-raising ceremony where Embassy officials read the national day messages of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., and Secretary of Labor and Employment Silvestre H. Bello III.

In his remarks, Ambassador Baja assured the Filipino community leaders that the Embassy, the newly opened Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO-Rabat), and the Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Casablanca will work hand-in-hand not only to strengthen and improve the Philippines’ bilateral relations but more importantly, ensure the welfare and protect the rights of overseas Filipinos. He also highlighted the good image of Filipinos in Morocco, saying that because of this, “...they are the better ambassadors of the Philippines in Morocco.” Finally, the Ambassador encouraged the Filipino leaders to work hand in hand with the Embassy, saying that “...kung sama sama, kayang kaya.”

The Filipino community leaders were very appreciative of the efforts of the Embassy to reach out to them, saying that finally the Philippine government listened to their appeals to open a resident embassy in Rabat. A forum was conducted between them and the Embassy and POLO to address pressing questions and concerns.

After the event, aside from the usual photo mementos, the Filipino leaders brought home with them an assurance that there is an Embassy and a government working for them. END