PRESS RELEASE
PR-060-2024
SINGAPORE, 15 June 2024 – In celebration of the 126th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and Nationhood, the Philippine Embassy in Singapore hosted a Diplomatic Reception at the ParkRoyal Hotel on Beach Road on Friday, 14 June 2024. Singapore Minister for Health Mr. Ong Ye Kung served as the Guest of Honor, together with two Members of Parliament (MP), Mr. Liang Eng Hwa for Bukit Panjang and Mr. Murali Pillai SC for Bukit Batok.
The event drew a big crowd of more than 400 attendees from the diplomatic corps, international organizations, Singapore government agencies, business community, academe, and partners of the Philippine Embassy. Guests were welcomed at the foyer with an exhibit of award-winning Filipino photographer Joel Forte, his first solo exhibit in Singapore.
The Embassy’s National Day Diplomatic Reception this year was extra special as the Philippines and Singapore celebrate their 55 years of diplomatic relations since its formal establishment of ties on 16 May 1969.
In his remarks, Ambassador Macaraig expressed appreciation for the leadership of former Prime Minister and now Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and looked forward to continuing the strong and fruitful partnership with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
He also emphasized the strong bilateral relations between the Philippines and Singapore on a diverse range of fields of cooperation, from trade and investment to defense and security, cultural and people-to-people ties, and characterized by several high-level visits beginning from the working visit to the Philippines of Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan in April 2024 and just recently, the visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to Singapore in May 2024, to deliver the Keynote Address at the 21st IISS Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD).
The Philippine Ambassador shared with the audience that President Marcos’ address at the SLD stressed the importance of a rules-based international order, the importance of multilateralism and the adherence to the ideals of the United Nations, ASEAN and the peaceful settlement of international disputes.
In response, Minister Ong conveyed his warmest congratulations to the Philippines, a close neighbor and partner of Singapore, as well as a fellow ASEAN founding member. He added that Singapore and the Philippines’ strong and multifaceted relationship is anchored on regular high-level exchanges of visits, high economic and people-to-people links. Minister Ong thanked the Philippines, and the strong Filipino Community in Singapore, specifically the healthcare workers who have been a strong pillar of Singapore’s healthcare system during the pandemic. Minister Ong expressed that Singapore looks forward to enhancing bilateral cooperation with the Philippines in the areas of trade and investment, energy, defense, including healthcare industry.
Ambassador Macaraig and Minister Ong toasted to the excellent bilateral relationship between the Philippines and Singapore, and to the continued health and well-being of President Marcos Jr. and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and the peoples of both countries.
Minister Ong and other guests were fascinated by the performance and modern interpretation of Filipino folk dances such as tinikling, by Filipino Dance Club Singapore and DMI Studio. Guests were also serenaded by Ambassador Macaraig with songs Hanggang by Wency Cornejo and With a Smile by Eraserheads. An all-Filipino singing group DEJAVU, who are based in Singapore, also entertained the guests during the event.
Guests were served with delightful Filipino food and beverage from the Embassy’s Food Trek 2024 partners, namely, Filipino lechon restaurants – Lechon Republic, Don Lechon, and Iskina Cebu; Filipino food favorites – Max’s Restaurant; Alegria, Octapas by El Mesa, Esquinita by Konyo, Kuya’s Kusinang Pinoy, and Second Serving; Filipino restaurants that serve halal food – Nanay’s Kitchen and Avocadoria; and the Philippines’ largest liquor company and the world’s largest brandy producer, Emperador. Inc.
The multi-year Philippine Independence Day commemoration (2023-2026), with the theme Kalayaan (Freedom), Kinabukasan (Future), Kasaysayan (History), highlights the birth of the Filipino nation from the proclamation of Philippine independence on 12 June 1898 in Kawit, Cavite until the end of the first Filipino government that lasted until the capture of President Emilio Aguinaldo in Palanan, Isabela on 23 March 1901. The theme aims to raise awareness among the Filipino people of our place in history as the earliest modern democracy and republic in Asia. (END).
