Press Release
Philippine Embassy-Brasilia - Brasil
July 8, 2008

The Philippine Embassy in Brasilia headed by Ambassador Teresita V.G. Barsana celebrated the 110^th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence with a series of socio-cultural and civic activities, and ended the weeklong celebration with the observance of the 147th birth anniversary of the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, on 19 June 2008.

Ambassador Barsana led the traditional Flag-Raising Ceremony and the Panunumpa sa Watawat at the Philippine Embassy in Brasilia. The tribute to the Philippine national hero was made at the Rizal memorial that was unveiled by Foreign Affairs Secretary, Dr. Alberto G. Romulo, during his visit to Brazil in 2007.

Father Bonaventure Maria, a Filipino priest and head of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, in Anapolis, State of Goiais, Brazil, officiated at a Special Concelebrated Mass at the Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Brasilia, designed by Oscar Niemeyer.

As part of the Philippine Embassy’s social awareness program, a visit was made to the Casa Vida Positiva, an institution that provides shelter, care and educational assistance to children afflicted with HIV/AIDS. Ambassador Barsana and Embassy personnel shared Filipino t-shirts, goods, food, and household products with the children and the administrators of the organization.

The independence anniversary celebration culminated on June 19 with a luncheon hosted by Ambassador Barsana for the members of the Asia-Oceania Ladies Association (AOLA), and guests from the business community, the academe and civic organizations. The event, which is line with the Embassy’s cultural and public diplomacy program, featured a raffle of Philippine crafts, and a video presentation on Philippine art and heritage in Rizal province, including the works of Botong Francisco and composer Lucio San Pedro, and the petroglyphs in Angono.

The rupestre art of Colombian artist Santiago Plata, which was exhibited at the Ambassador’s residence, focused on the similarities of the designs found in the Angono petroglyphs and those in Brazil, Colombia Peru, Bolivia and Chile. Plata has been documenting petroglyphs in South America through the traditional frottage technique, and plans to extend his research to Asia, including the Philippines.