For the whole month of June, the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh organized the following activities to commemorate the 117th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence.
A. Philippine Food Festival at Digby’s, 6-7 June 2015
In partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Embassy organized
“LINAMNAM: Flavors of the Philippines” food festival at Digby's, a well-known restaurant in Phnom Penh frequented by locals and expats alike. Many Filipinos, Cambodians and expats from other countries ordered meals from the PH menu and enjoyed classics such as chicken pork adobo, pork belly bagnet, pancit lucban, sansrival, and halo-halo.
Filipino celebrity chef Jam Melchor of Unang Hirit was on hand to train the chefs of Digby’s.
B. Flag-raising ceremony and breakfast with the Filipino Community, 12 June 2015
The Embassy held the traditional flag raising ceremony at 7:30 am, 12 June 2015, at the Embassy grounds. An estimated 170 Filipinos attended the event.
The Koro Filipino, an Embassy-organized choir composed of members of the Filipino community, sang the “Lupang Hinirang.” This was followed by the recitation of the “Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat.”
The messages of President Benigno S. Aquino III, Vice President Jejomar Binay, and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. del Rosario were read by First Secretary and Consul Myca Fischer, Defense Attache Col. Pablo Lorenzo, and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Monika Limpo, respectively. Ambassador Christopher B. Montero also delivered a short message to the Filipino community.
The event concluded with a breakfast buffet featuring Filipino food.
C. 1st Philippine Film Festival, 13 June 2015, Aeon Mall
In cooperation with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the Embassy organized the 1st Philippine Film Festival in Cambodia on 13 June 2015 at the Cinema Complex of Aeon Mall, Phnom Penh’s first and only modern shopping mall.
The one-day event consisted of the screening of three films, namely: “Anac Ti Pating,” “Ang Tag-araw ni Twinkle” and “Bamboo Flowers.” Over 700 moviegoers – Filipinos, Cambodians and expats, enjoyed the movies, which were shown to the public free of charge.
Feedback on the choice of these independent films was very positive, despite the absence of big-name stars. The films’ story lines seem to have resonated with most of the Filipino and Cambodian viewers, who found the films heart-warming and full of important life lessons.
D. Philippine Food and Music Festival, 13-20 June 2015, Khmer World Food Court, Aeon Mall
In partnership with the Department of Agriculture, the Embassy organized a week-long Philippine food and music festival at the Khmer World Food Court (KWFC) of Aeon Mall. Two outlets in the KWFC sold oxtail kare-kare, chicken and pork adobo, lechong manok, lechon balamban, belly bagnet, sisig platter, chicken afritada, halo-halo, samalamig geli coolers, and dalandan and calamansi juices.
Celebrity chef Jam Melchor of Unang Hirit conducted trainings for the chefs of KWFC. The Embassy hired several Filipino bands to perform at the KWFC every night during the Festival.
E. Barrio Fiesta (in conjunction with SAMAPI), 14 June 2015
The Embassy supported the Barrio Fiesta organized by the Samahan ng mga Pilipino sa Cambodia or SAMAPI on 14 June at Diamond Island, Phnom Penh. SAMAPI is the only formally organized Filipino community organization in Cambodia. About 400 Filipinos and their friends attended the event, which also included a Santacruzan parade, cultural performances, raffle draws, and parlor games.
F. Inauguration of Sentro Rizal of Phnom Penh and Public Lecture of NCCA Chairman Felipe De Leon, Jr. for the Filipino Community on 19 June 2015
Officials of the Embassy and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) led the inauguration of the Sentro Rizal of Phnom Penh at simple rites held on June 19 at the Embassy grounds. Around 70 members of the Filipino community attended the event.
NCCA Chairman Felipe de Leon, Jr. presented a Certificate of Registration to the Embassy, accrediting the SRPP as the 11th Sentro Rizal across the globe.
As an initial activity of SRPP, Chairman de Leon delivered a public lecture entitled “What Makes Filipinos Filipino?” to members of the Filipino community, who expressed delight in learning about themselves and the unique genius inherent in the Filipino.
G. Public Lecture by NCCA Chairman Felipe De Leon, Jr., at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, 20 June 2015
In cooperation with the Department of International Studies of the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), the Embassy organized a public lecture by Chairman Felipe de Leon on 20 June 2015 to faculty and students of RUPP. Around 80 people, including members of the Filipino community, attended the lecture entitled “The Philippine Society in the ASEAN Community.”
H. Diplomatic Reception (with fashion show of Banaca wraps of Ditta Sandico Ong), 22 June 2015
The Embassy hosted a diplomatic reception on 22 June 2015, at the Grand Ballroom of Raffles Le Royal Hotel. The reception was attended by over 200 guests from the Cambodian government, business, academe and media, the diplomatic corps, and prominent members of the Filipino community. H.E. Hang Chuon Naron, Minister of Education, Youth, and Sport of the Kingdom of Cambodia, was the Guest of Honor at the reception.
The diplomatic reception provided an opportunity to showcase Filipino design and creativity through a fashion show of banaca wraps by Dita Sandico-Ong. The singing group Koro Filipino, an Embassy-organized choir composed of members of the Filipino community, rendered two songs, namely “Anak” and “Circle of Life.” Both segments of the program were well received by the audience.
Raffles Le Royal Hotel prepared a sumptuous all-Filipino dinner buffet, which included oxtail kare-kare, chicken adobo, Bicol express, pansit palabok, bulalo, and crispy pata.
The giveaways to guests included promotional materials from DOT, Oishi snack food from Liwayway Corporation, dips and sauces from Clara Olé and Mama Sita, and PH care from Unilab. Guests also sampled San Miguel products donated by the San Miguel Brewery International (Cambodia Representative Office) and Calamansi Liqueur brought in by Bangkok-based Philippine Special Agriculture Attaché, Ms. Ana Abejuela.
I. Bring Home a Friend Contest
The Embassy initiated a tourism promotion activity involving members of the Filipino Community, who submitted entries (essays and video presentations) on why they want to bring a foreigner-friend to the Philippines. The winner of the Bring Home a Friend contest won three roundtrip tickets (Siem Reap-Manila-Siem Reap) courtesy of Cebu Pacific. END
