The 2023 theme, “Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan.” – Freedom. Future. History
By Roy Lie Atjam
The Embassy of the Philippines in the Netherlands joined Filipinos around the world in celebrating the 125th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence and Nationhood with a Diplomatic reception at the Philippine Embassy in The Hague, on 15 June 2022.
In a celebratory message, H.E. Ambassador Eduardo Malaya, reflected on the past, presence and future developments of his beloved Philippines. “ He stated: maraming salamat, dank u wel, thank you for joining us this afternoon to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.
The 125-year milestone is being commemorated because by proclaiming independence from Spain, Emilio Aguinaldo and other revolutionaries triggered the creation of a national consciousness among the different peoples and ethnic groups across the Philippine archipelago, and for a shining yet brief three year period, gave birth to Asia’s first republic, securing the Philippines’ place in history as the earliest modern democracy and republic in that part of the world.
Among the contemporaries of Aguinaldo was Jose Rizal, a medical doctor, sculptor and writer. He lived for a time in Madrid and Paris, travelled across Europe and published two influential novels – the Noli Me Tangere in Berlin and the El Felibusterismo in Ghent, Belgium, which contributed to that national consciousness and together are taken as the country’s national epic.”
Though Rizal advocated for autonomy and peaceful reforms for the then colony, he was charged with rebellion and made to face a firing squad. The embassy will inaugurate the profile bust of Rizal on July 4 in honor of the Philippine national hero.
Ambassador Eduardo Malaya went on to say, “Filipinos look back to 1898 and not 1946 as the most glorious period of our history, and are grateful to Rizal, Aguinaldo, Andres Bonifacio and numerous others for their patriotism, courage and supreme sacrifice.
Pardon this brief excursion on the meaning of today’s event. It happens to be one of the subjects dealt with in my book on the Philippine presidents and their inaugural visions, whose second edition was published five years ago.
In addition there is a second part in celebrating this year’s Philippine National Day, the introduction of Philippine cuisine, for which we brought in two celebrity chefs from Manila, we also would like to thank many of you for the friendship, support, and partnership that you and your embassies, agencies and organizations have extended to me and my team these past two and a half years:
- Firstly, dank u wel to the Government of the Netherlands for the friendship and the productive partnership, which have grown each year. Our two countries marked 70 years of fruitful diplomatic relations in 2022. The meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Mark Rutte in December boosted our cooperation, along with a number of high-level visits and exchanges, including the visit of the Philippine Trade and Industry Minister next month. Thanks in particular to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Asia and Oceania (DAO), represented here by Max Valstar, for their constant eagerness to work with us to strengthen relations.
- Thanks as well to the multilateral organizations here in Hague, starting with the OPCW with which many of us in the diplomatic corps are deeply engaged in addressing threats from chemical weapons and towards strengthening capacities on the peaceful uses of chemistry. We thank especially the members of the Asia Group of the OPCW, many of whom are here today, who we serve as regional coordinator, for their cooperation in ensuring that the Asia group is able to reach consensus on matters before it.
- We thank the Hague Conference on Private International Law, specially Secretary General Bernasconi, for the many productive collaborations, notably possible the conduct of the HCCH Asia-Pacific Week in Manila in October last year, which was attended by over 450 experts and legal practitioners, as well as guiding us in the Philippine accession to HCCH Conventions, including the Child Support Convention last year. Thanks also to the HCCH Member States for their support to the recent election of one of the embassy’s officer, Marisar Cabatingan, this program’s emcee, as chair of the Standing Committee of the HCCH Council of Diplomatic representatives.
- Finally, our profound thanks to the Contracting Parties of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) and Secretary General Czepelak for the trust and confidence in me to serve as the Acting President of the Administrative Council for term 2023-2024. I also wish to thank the Contracting Parties for their support to the initiative to preparate and conduct meaningful yet cost-effective activities in commemoration of the PCA’s 125th anniversary – that is something in common between the PCA and the Philippines. The Secretary General and I are proceeding to New York at the end of this month to serve as resource persons on the proposed adoption of a U.N. General Assembly Resolution on the PCA’s 125 year milestone. We hope that all these will further highlight the PCA’s contributions to world peace through the peaceful settlement of international disputes.
As the Filipino nation chart its future and shape its history, we at the Philippine Embassy are committed to contributing to this mission through meaningful engagements and proactive diplomacy, both bilaterally and multilaterally. We will work tirelessly with many, if not all, of you in pursuit of shared aspirations.”.
In concluding, Ambassador Malaya proposed a toast “– to our partnership and cooperation; to the continuous success of our host country, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and of the international organizations based here; to the good health of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and His Majesty King Willem Alexander; and to the prosperity and abiding strength of the Philippines and its people!
Mabuhay! Long life! Maraming salamat. Dank u wel. Thank you.”
The celebration of the 125th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence and Nationhood provided an interactive experience, allowing attendees to experience the rich heritage of the Philippines.
A real Fiesta Filipinas!
