After a hiatus of 10 years, the Independence Day of Finland was celebrated at a reception organized by the newly reopened Embassy of Finland in Manila.
In his speech, Ambassador Juha Markus Pyykkö thanked the guests for their assistance, guidance and kindness during the first two years of operations.
The event celebrated more than just the independence of Finland. It also called to mind the progress the Finns have been making here, including the reopening of the Embassy in 2020, after nearly eight years of being closed.
Pyykkö lauded the hospitality and assistance of Filipinos during his stay here. The Finnish community was acknowledged warmly in his speech as well, with the ambassador greeting them in their native tongue.
Perhaps the most exciting announcement of the night was that the Embassy of the Philippines in Helsinki would reopen by 2024. We look forward to that.
The event was overall a delight to experience, and full of optimism for future Finland-Philippine relations. —Contributed
