The Philippine Consul General a.h Wassim Nanaa attended the DIPLOMATIC RECEPTION ON THE OCCASION OF THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROCLAMATION OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE which was held by the Embassy of Philippines on 11 June 2023 at the Sheraton Hotel, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
Chargé d’affaires Hon. John Reyes welcomed guests and expressed in his opening remarks that the celebration not just highlights the Philippines’ “hard-earned freedom and state of nationhood but serves also as our periodic pledge of the strong relations of the Philippines with Syria.”
CDA Reyes also conveyed the Philippines’ Foreign Affairs Secretary, H.E. Enrique A. Manalo’s message for the said occasion, which highlights the theme “Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan.”
The event’s guest of honor, Director of the Department of Asian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign and Expatriates, Mohammed Haj Ibrahim, emphasized the deep-rooted ties between the Philippines and Syria, citing that Syria was among the first five countries that recognized the independence of Philippines in 1946. H.E. Ibrahim added the Philippines’ support to Syria during the war and devastating earthquake that occurred in February 2023.
At the end of the reception Philippine Consul General a.h Wassim Nanaa delivered the closing remarks and pointed out that the people of the two countries enjoy the same values towards life, peace, justice and the fight against colonialism, and hopes to boost bilateral economic, cultural and tourism cooperation, and also indicated how the consulate in Aleppo remained open to the public even during the most difficult times that Aleppo had faced.
During the reception, the Embassy showcased Filipino cuisine by serving Crispy Chicken Kare-Kare and Ube Ice Cream. Filipino culture and heritage were also presented through a fashion show featuring the various national costumes of the Philippines, which were gracefully modeled by the members of the Filipino community and Embassy Personnel.
Among the attendees were the Syrian Government Ministers Dr. Dareem Tabaa (Ministry of Education), Judge Ahmed Al-Sayed (Ministry of Justice), H.E. Louie Al-Munjed (Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor), and Dr. Diala Barkat (Ministry of State for Development of the Southern Region), ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Damascus, department directors in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, and other officials of the Syrian government.
