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| While then Consul General Tony Morales was reading the president's message, protesters were massing in nearby Tamar |
The combined effect of the pandemic and the ongoing protests
in Hong Kong has made the Consulate to decide
on having just a short and simple commemoration of the 122nd anniversary
of the proclamation of Philippine Independence this year.
Consul General Raly Tejada said the biggest event in the
Philippine calendar will be marked with an hour-long gathering, 9am to 10 am,
at the Consulate on Friday, Jun 12.
“Pasensiya na muna – no food and strictly ceremonial
proceeding lang,” he said in a message. “Maitawid lang natin ang mahalagang
araw na ito.”
There will be no big social events, like the diplomatic
reception traditionally hosted by the Consulate, or an Independence Day Ball, which has for
years, been organized by the Philippine Association of Hong Kong.
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| The reception line at the Conrad was far less busy than in previous years |
Nor will there be a large gathering on Chater Road Hong Kong
had come together to mount a day-long, or even a month-long, celebration of
Philippine Independence.
The coronavirus has upended all those traditions this year,
in the same way the anti-government protests derailed much of them last year.
On Jun 12 last year, both the flag-raising and breakfast
gathering at the Consulate and the diplomatic reception at the Conrad later in
the evening of the same day attracted far fewer people than in previous years
because of the large mass gatherings in Admiralty.
Early on that day, protesters started streaming towards the
government offices in Tamar, which is just a stone’s throw away from the
Consulate. The protesters succeeded in preventing the legislative council from
convening to debate a controversial extradition bill, which has since been
junked.
By early evening the crowd had grown so big that a few tired
protesters moved into the nearby Pacific
Place
As a result, only about a third of all the invited guests at
the diplomatic reception turned up, and no high-ranking official from the Hong
Kong government came for the usual ceremonial toast and exchange of
well-wishes between the two governments.
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| Some guests at the Consulate's reception got caught in pitch battles between protesters and police |
By the time the reception finished about an hour earlier
than usual, the street battles between the protesters and the police were in
full swing, and some of the guests found themselves walking right into the
confrontation.
There is no chance of that happening this year.
Congen Tejada said that at first, he had contemplated on
limiting the gathering to only within Consulate staff, but later on decided to
extend an open invitation to Filipino community leaders who might want to join
the commemoration.
The foremost consideration was the distancing rule that
allows only a maximum of eight people to gather in public. But since the event
will be held indoors and will be short, with guests being asked to wear masks, the
risk of contamination is low.
The second was budgetary constraints. Tejada said all
non-essential expenses have been taken off their budget, as the government has
been pouring much of its resources into helping Filipinos affected by the
pandemic.
Even in Manila , this year’s
commemoration at Luneta
Park
An announcement from the government task force against
Covid-19 today said that only 10 people will be at the wreath-laying ceremony,
but did not indicate who would be there to represent the government.
