Filipinos in the CNMI celebrate RP independence

Dozens of Filipinos trooped to the Philippine consulate office in Susupe yesterday morning, attending a flag-raising ceremony in celebration of the 106th anniversary of Philippine independence.

Many of the guests wore Filipiniana attire such as Barong Tagalog, and took part in a traditional Filipino breakfast that served fare such as sinangag, danggit, pansit, pandesal and kutsinta.

In a brief ceremony, Consul General Wilfredo Maximo read the message of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who noted the expansion of Filipino communities in different parts of the world.

“Globalization has contributed to expand our boundaries to bring 7.4 million Filipinos to almost every corner of the world,” the president said. “The Philippine brand of hard work, determination, and entrepreneurial competence sought to bring recognition to the Filipino worker.”

Labor attaché Lourdes Lavilla delivered the message of Philippine Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia A. Sto. Tomas, who underscored the contributions of overseas Filipino workers to the Asian country’s economy. According to Sto. Tomas, OFWs remitted some $7.6 billion to the Philippines in 2003.

“This amount helped trigger our economic growth,” Sto. Tomas said. “For the first quarter of 2004, gross domestic product grew to 6.4, 2.2 percent higher than what we have projected. This, indeed, was something we should be cheerful about as we celebrate this year’s Independence Day.”

Consul Wenceslao Gayola delivered the message of Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert, while welfare officer Mary Dait read the message of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Virgilio R. Angelo.

Nelida Atalig, a Philippine native who has lived in the CNMI for 21 years, said attending the gathering made her feel like she was in the Philippines, celebrating Independence Day with her countrymen.

Various Filipino groups and the consulate pooled food contributions to organize the breakfast buffet.

The day before, the Philippine Consulate General hosted a vin d’honneur at the Aqua Resort Club that was attended by ranking officials from the public and private sector.

Acting Gov. Diego T. Benavente led the roster of government officials present at the vin d’honneur. He honored the Filipinos in the CNMI and gave credit to their efforts that has brought the CNMI to where it is now. Calling them brothers and sisters, he cited the common thread of culture and history of the Philippines and the CNMI and praised the civic involvement of Filipino groups on the islands.

Just before the start of the ceremonies, Maximo asked for a moment of silence in honor of former president Ronald Reagan, who was set to be buried in California just a few hours later.

Office of Insular Affairs field representative Jeff Schorr said this coincidence is worth noting in that the people of the Philippines and the people of the United States, who have a shared history over the past century, value the same things Ronald Reagan fought for.

“It is altogether fitting to note this connection on the occasion of Philippine Independence Day,” Schorr said.

Maximo, who recently replaced longtime Philippine consul general Julia Heidemann, extended his appreciation for his relatively painless transition to the post, saying that he is reaping all the goodwill that his predecessor had sowed. He also cited the successful holding of the first overseas voting for Filipinos in the CNMI and praised the local government for its spirit of consultation with his office on matters affecting the Filipino population on the island.

Others present at the vin d’honneur were House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial, Rep. Clyde Norita, Rep. Ray Yumul, Rep. Martin B. Ada, Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela, Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council chair Gregorio Deleon Guerrero, CNMI Supreme Court associate justice John Manglona, Superior Court judge Ramona Manglona, Attorney General Pamela BrownCabinet secretaries Jack Tenorio and John Reyes, Japanese Consul Takeo Saito, Tan Holdings Corp. executive vice president Jerry Tan, and governor’s senior policy adviser Robert Schwalbach, among others.

Today, Filipino groups have set a motorcade from the American Memorial Park in Garapan to the Civic Center in Susupe, where they would hold the Pistang Pilipino, an event that would be filled with entertainment and food.