Time was when taking a few days from going out was something we couldn’t factor into our busy schedules, let alone the…
Sweden Ambassador Harald Fries, Israel Ambassador Rafael Harpaz,Monaco Honorary Consul General Fortune Aleta Ledesma,Netherlands Ambassador Saskia de Lang, Romania Chargé d’Affaires Mihai Sion
Highlights of embassy celebrations of Hungary and Spain national days
Sweden Ambassador Harald Fries, Israel Ambassador Rafael Harpaz,Monaco Honorary Consul General Fortune Aleta Ledesma,Netherlands Ambassador Saskia de Lang, Romania Chargé d’Affaires Mihai Sion
The Embassy of Hungary recently celebrated the Central European country’s National Day at Fairmont Makati. It marked the 63rd anniversary of the outbreak of the Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Struggle of 1956, a heroic stand for liberty and independence.
Guests from the Philippine government, the business and cultural communities of Manila, as well as Hungarians in the Philippines, watched cultural performances in both Filipino and Hungarian.
Hungary is a long-time partner of the Philippines, having established diplomatic relations 46 years ago. It reopened its Embassy in Manila in 2017.
The two countries’ relations are dynamically increasing in scope and intensity, with steadily growing bilateral trade and investments, a healthy exchange of cultural activities and vibrant educational cooperation.
Every year, Hungary provides 35 fully funded scholarships to Filipino students enrolled in Hungarian higher education institutions.
Spanish reception
Meanwhile, for Spanish National Day, the Embassy of Spain in Manila hosted a reception at the official residence of Ambassador Jorge Moragas in North Forbes Park.
It was well attended with more than 650 guests, including Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Amelita Aquino and Papal Nuncio Gabriele Giordano Caccia.
Also present were representatives of the diplomatic corps
The guests were treated to live performances by Spanish rumba band Los Alpresa and flamenco guitarist Emilio Caracafé, who rendered the national anthems of Spain and the Philippines.
Caracafé also played his original work, “Una vuelta al mundo (Around the World),” a tribute to the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world.
That milestone was the theme of Ambassador Moragas’ speech, which highlighted the multicultural nature of the crew on board the ships.
Barbara Jansson, Sweden Deputy Head of Mission Lennart JanssonSwitzerland Consul General Gregor Fritsche, Austrian Deputy Head of Mission Wolfgang GmaszGeorgia Consul Joselito Aseniero, Costa Rica Consul General Fausto Preysler, lawyer King ReynoAldona Szczepankiewicz, Poland Embassy’s Joanna Wasiewska, Italy Deputy Head of Mission Eugeniu Rotaru, Poland Ambassador Jaroslaw SzczepankiewiczPresidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar, Turkey Ambassador Artemiz SümerBangladesh Ambassador Asad Alam Siam,Nigeria Ambassador Adekunbi Sonaike Ayodeji, Cambodia Ambassador Leng ChanvirakMarivic Rufino, Chuchi Villar, Greece Ambassador Antonis Alexandridis, Togo Consul Evie Costa, Angola Consul Helen OngShouli Harpaz, Spain Ambassador Jorge Moragas, Mervat Ezzat, Egypt Ambassador Ahmed EzzatHungary Ambassador Jozsef Bencze, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Archbishop Gabriele CacciaGellert Ratkai, Edith Ratkai,Hungary Consul Balazs RatkaiKata Ambrus,Hungary Deputy Head of Mission Dávid AmbrusChloe Romulo, former Philippine ambassador to Spain Isabel Wilson, Linda Aldanese, Becky de LiañoEsperanza Padilla, Menchu Menchaca Soriano, Alejandro Zobel Padilla, Bea RoxasJuan Carlos de Terry,Mari de Terry, Pia Morato, Ed RochaErin Roper, Australian Consul General Darran RoperApostolic Nunciature Counselor Msgr. Julien Kaboré, Papua New Guinea Ambassador Betty PalasoLita Salinas, former Philippine ambassador to Spain Carlos Salinas, former Philippine ambassador to Japan Manolo Lopez, Maritess LopezCzech Republic Ambassador Jana Sediva, Netherlands Ambassador Saskia de LangTurkey Ambassador Artemiz Sümer, Chile Ambassador José Miguel CapdevilaLulu Rodriguez, Betsy Westendorp, Cristina BriasSpain Embassy Defense Attaché Colonel Ricardo PardoSpain Consul General Fernando Heredia, Spain Deputy Head of Mission Amaya FuentesPaloma Moragas, Spain Ambassador Jorge MoragasRaffy Guevarra, Anagine GuevarraSpain Consul General Fernando Heredia, Diether OcampoChile Deputy Chief of Mission Giancarlo Mosciatti, Panama Chargé d’Affaires Lhuana Pamela Amorim, Colombia Chargé d’Affaires David MontoyaAustralia-New Zealand Banking Group country manager Anna Green, Lebanon Consul Joseph AssadAnna Schissau, Germany Deputy Head of Mission Roland Schissau