PH EMBASSY IN NAIROBI CELEBRATES KALAYAAN 2022 WITH THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY

(Nairobi PE Personnel with over 100 Filcom members who attended Kalayaan 2022 celebration) 

Nairobi, 12 June 2022 – The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi hosted a salu-salo on 12 June 2022 in celebration of the 124th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Philippine Independence. The gathering, the first such since the pandemic, was organized in partnership with the Filipino Community in Kenya (Filcom Kenya), an organization of Filipino communities in Kenya.

Over 100 Filcom members attended the event that included a flag-raising ceremony, community mass, showing of Kalayaan Day messages of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., Pinoy salu-salo, modern palarong Pinoy, special performances, and awarding ceremony for the Filcom’s SportsFest.

In her remarks, Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang described the Filipinos living in Kenya as the Philippines’ ‘best ambassadors’ in the country. She called on them to rise to the challenge of this year’s Independence Day theme, “Pagsuong sa Hamon ng Panibagong Bukas.”

“Building on your achievements and learnings in Kenya, may we all rise to the challenge of nation-building in these uncertain times and become agents for positive change in our respective communities back home as we work together to build a peaceful, united and progressive Philippines,” said Ambassador Tang.

During the program, the guests enjoyed favorite Pinoy dishes such as lechon, chicken adobo, pancit, bicol express, and caldereta, while being serenaded with classic and modern OPM songs by the Imbento Band, led by Ms. Emeliza Abulencia.

Filcom teams also performed traditional and modern Filipino dances, and showcased their best version of ginataan through the Ginataan Queen/King Dessert Challenge. END

(Nairobi PE Personnel and Filipino community members during the singing of Lupang Hinirang)

(Fr. Norman Labutan (center), joined by Fr. Philip Lazatin (left) and Fr. Eric Lacandula (right), presides the Community Mass)

(Ambassador Tang delivers her Kalayaan 2022 remarks)

(Filcom members as they perform traditional folk dances)

(Imbento band performs OPM songs)

(Nairobi PE’s Kalayaan 2022 official photo)