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| CG Israel (middle, with glasses) and Consulate officers pose for photos with Filcom leaders |
The traditional ‘almusal’ of members of the Filipino community in Hong Kong to mark Philippine Independence Day on Thursday, June 12, was, as before, highlighted by the reading of messages from the country’s top officials.
In his message, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr said independence day must be marked not just by honoring
the heroic deeds of the past, but by continuing the work of nation-building.
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| PINDUTIN DITO |
“For the forces that have once enslaved us – ignorance,
inequality, injustice, do not vanish,” he said.
“Our task now is to free ourselves not from
empires but from erosion within, to liberate our people from hatred,
divisiveness and apathy that threatens to undo the union that our forefathers bled,
fought and died for.”
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| President Marcos calls for end to divisiveness on Independence Day |
In her own message, Vice President Sara
Duterte whose impeachment for alleged graft and threats on the life of the president
is at the centre of a political struggle between the two houses of Congress, called
for Filipinos to speak out against poverty and corruption.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
“Kabilang
sa hamon ng ating kalayaan ang pagmamalabis at katiwalian sa gobyerno, laganap
na droga, problema sa edukasyon, kahirapan at gutom,” she said. (Among the
challenges to our freedom is abuse of power and corruption in government,
widespread drug abuse, educational challenges, poverty and hunger).
“Hindi
tayo lumaya para masadlak lang sa pagdurusa ang ating bansa. (We didn’t win
our freedom, only to leave our country mired in helplessness).
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| VP Duterte hits out at corruption, poverty and drug use in her message |
Among the other government officials who
either recorded their own messages or had their top representative at the
Consulate read it out for them were outgoing Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique
Manalo, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac, Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator
PY Caunan and Trade and Industry Secretary Maria Cristina Roque.
First Lady, Louise Araneta-Marcos, was a
surprise addition to the list of official well-wishers featured in the
traditional breakfast that kicks off Philippine Independence Day celebrations in
Hong Kong.
The all-Filipino gathering hosted by the
Consulate was held for the first time this year at the OFW Global Centre on the
18th floor of United Centre Building in Admiralty.
