Zubair Qureshi
Ambassador of the Philippines, Maria Agnes M. Cervantes hosted a grand reception which also featured colourful cultural performance of her country’s artists to celebrate the 126th anniversary of the Philippines as on June 12, 1898, the Philippines declared its independence.
Senator MushahidHussain Sayed, Managing Director (MD) of Pakistan Sweet Homes Zamurrad Khan, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador of Turkmenistan, AtadjanMovlamov and representatives from the Association of the South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) were among the guests Ambassador Maria invited to the stage for formal cake cutting ceremony.
In her welcome speech the Philippines ambassador said June 12 1898 was a turning point in the history of her country as the people stood for self-determination, freedom and justice.
“This special event allows us to honour the bravery, resilience and unwavering spirit of our forefathers, who fought for the freedom we hold dear today,” she said.
The celebration highlighted the Philippines’ progress and unity as a nation. According to the ambassador, the theme of 2024’s celebrations was ‘Freedom, Future, and History’. She further said that the three words perfectly defined the national character of her people and essence of the festivities.
“Freedom signifies the hard-earned liberty our ancestors achieved for us. The future represents our determination to build a prosperous nation, and history reflects our rich past,” she added.
She noted the remarkable resilience and courage the Filipino people had shown throughout history, from the colonial era to the present.
“Our fight for freedom demonstrated our unwavering spirit and desire for self-determination. Despite many challenges, we have always emerged stronger, remaining committed to justice.
We are reminded of our responsibilities as guardians of the freedom our ancestors fought for. It is our duty to preserve this legacy by promoting unity, fostering peace and working for the common good,” she said.
The ambassador highlighted the Philippines’ continued commitment to democracy, human rights and social justice. She emphasised that “freedom, future and history” should constantly remind of the ongoing task of nation-building, which required innovation, ingenuity and perseverance.
“By doing so, we honour our past, enrich our present, and pave the way for a brighter future,” she added.
