The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Ankara, Turkey
PH EMBASSY CELEBRATES KALAYAAN 127, PHILIPPINE MADRIGAL SINGERS SHOWCASE PH TALENT IN TÜRKIYE
The Philippine Madrigal Singers performing in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara (Embassy photo)
30 May 2025 – The Philippine Embassy in Ankara hosted KALAYAAN 127, a diplomatic reception and special concert in commemoration of the 127th Anniversary of Proclamation of Philippine Independence and closing of the 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Türkiye, on 29 May 2025 at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Altındağ, Ankara.
In his remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Türkiye H.E. Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. honored and remembered the sacrifices of our forefathers in celebration of the freedom that the Philippines and the Filipino people currently enjoy. He also described the event as the culminating night for the year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of ties between the Philippines and Türkiye. “Music has been the recurring theme for our commemoration of our strong and robust diplomatic ties with Türkiye,” said the Ambassador as he recounted the two concerts last year for the milestone celebration. “The Philippines is proud to be Türkiye’s oldest diplomatic partner in Southeast Asia,” the Ambassador further said.
The Ambassador and his spouse, Madame Ann Mariza Sanchez-Bensurto, warmly welcomed over 250 guests to a cocktail reception at the museum grounds. Deputy Minister for Defense Bilal Durdalı graced the event as the guest of honor from the Turkish government.
The guests, composed of members of the diplomatic community, Turkish government officials, members of the academe, and friends of the Philippines, were invited inside the Stone Artifacts Hall of the museum for the special concert of the internationally-acclaimed Philippine Madrigal Singers (The Madz) with Choirmaster Mark Anthony Carpio.
The Madz started the evening with soothing and prayerful melodies of “The Prayer of St. Francis,” “O Sacrum Convivium,” “Sanctus,” and “Spaséñiye, sodélal.” They ended their first set with Benedict Sheehan’s, “In the Wondrous Blending of Sounds” and Ryan Cayabyab’s “Paraiso.”
The Madz demonstrated their talent and the versatility of Filipinos during the second part of the concert. The group sang several international songs, including a Russian song, “Zoriu byut,” a medley of Indian songs, “Ghoomar,” “Ekla Cholo Re,” “Navrai Majhi,” and “Bumbro,” a Macedonian song, “Makedonska Humoreska,” a Lebanese song, “Aatini al-nāy wa ghanni”, and a Turkish song, “Dosluğa Davet.” The Madz sang an Ilocano song, “O Naranniag A Bulan,” and a medley of three beloved Filipino songs in “Isang Bansang Mapayapa.”
During the encore, they surprised the crowd with their rendition of “Pinoy Ako, Proud Ako” composed by Ambassador Bensurto. They also sang “Circle of Life” from Lion King. For their final song, The Madz performed “Kumukutikutitap” together with a video recording of the composer, Mr. Ryan Cayabyab, conducting the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality City Orchestra during the SPARK*CONNECT*EMPOWER: A Friendship Concert held on 13 December 2024.
After the concert, guests were given souvenir tote bags with the 75th logo design and a photo of the Chocolate Hills from Bohol. The tote bags contained Oishi snacks: Cracklings, ube-flavored Pillows, and prawn crackers, Cebu-brand dried mangoes and young coconut chunks, and coconut sugar sachets.
As part of the year-long celebration of the 75 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Türkiye, the Embassy organized two concerts in 2024. The first one was on June 12, a Diplomatic Reception and Special Concert featuring Filipino artists, The Nightingales, and violinist Joseph Brian Cimafranca. The festivities continued with the friendship concert between Philippine and Turkish artists on December 13, featuring Philippine National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab and International Concert Pianist Dr. Abelardo Galang II with the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality City Orchestra. The special concert of the multi-awarded Philippine Madrigal Singers officially concluded the milestone year.
The event was made possible through the Embassy’s partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul, led by Consul General Shirlene C. Mananquil, the Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of Cultural Diplomacy (OCD), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Office of the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché in Ankara (ODAFA-Ankara), and our product sponsors, Coco Natura, Liwayway Marketing Corporation, and Profood International Corporation. END.
Ambassador Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. welcoming Guest of Honor Turkish Deputy Minister for Defense Bilal Durdalı (Embassy photo)
(L-R) Ambassador Henry S. Bensurto Jr., Turkish Deputy Minister for Defense Bilal Durdalı, and Madame Ann Mariza Sanchez-Bensurto at KALAYAAN 127 (Embassy photo)
Ambassador Henry S. Bensurto Jr. giving his remarks during KALAYAAN 127 (Embassy photo)
Deputy Minister for Defense Bilal Durdalı giving his message as Guest of Honor (Embassy photo)
The Madz performing in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara (Embassy photo)
PHILIPPINE MADRIGAL SINGERS SERENADE GUESTS DURING FILIPINO-TURKISH FRIENDSHIP DAY
The Philippine Madrigal Singers (The Madz) serenading the Filipino community and Turkish friends at the Meryem Ana Catholic Church in Ankara (Embassy photo)
28 May 2025 – The Philippine Embassy in Ankara held an event entitled, “Spark*Connect*Empower: A Serenade for the Filipino Community and Turkish Friends” on 27 May 2025 at the Meryem Ana Catholic Church in Ankara. The highlight of the event was the concert of the internationally-acclaimed Philippine Madrigal Singers (The Madz).
About two hundred Filipino, Turkish, and foreign guests gathered for the celebration of this year’s Filipino-Turkish Friendship Day and the commemoration of the 127th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence Day.
In his remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Türkiye Henry S. Bensurto Jr., said that this year’s Independence Day, with the theme, “Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan.” (“Freedom. Future. History”) is an opportunity to cherish the freedom fought for by our forefathers, the future that they dreamt for the nation and the history we aim to remember and honor. “Any Filipino that has exercised their freedom to plant their roots here, however short or long, contributes, in their own individual and collective way, to the future and history of the Philippines and Türkiye. I want to build on this by sparking a curiosity on our two peoples about our two culture and can connect our myriad peoples across cultures and generations that culminates in the empowerment of Filipinos and Turkish alike,” the Ambassador continued.
The cultural program opened with a prayer by Fr. Michael McGuckian of the St. Teresa Church in Ulus, Ankara. The Filipino community performers included a Flores De Mayo Procession consisting of members of the Fil-Turk Friendship and Solidarity Association, followed by song performances by Ms. Cecille Pungyan and Ms. Leahna Mae Guritan.
The main program started with the invocation led by Fr. Seraphin Ngoie Kazadi of the Meryem Ana Church. This was followed by the Philippine and Turkish National anthems and the remarks of Ambassador Bensurto and the guest of honor, Undersecretary Jainal T. Rasul, Jr. of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), who traveled all the way from the Philippines to meet the Filipinos in Türkiye.
The highlight of the program was the performance of The Madz, led by their Choirmaster Mark Anthony A. Carpio. During the first part of their concert, The Madz sang mostly religious songs, including “Prayer of St. Francis” and “O Sacrum Convivium” as an homage to the Filipino’s deep-rooted Catholic faith. The second part of the concert included their rendition of popular Original Pilipino Music (OPM). During the encore, they surprised the crowd with their rendition of “Pinoy Ako, Proud Ako” composed by Ambassador Bensurto. For their final song, The Madz performed “Kumukutikutitap” together with a video recording of the composer, Mr. Ryan Cayabyab, conducting the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality City Orchestra during the SPARK*CONNECT*EMPOWER: A Friendship Concert held on 13 December 2024.
Founded in 1963 by National Artist for Music Professor Andrea O. Veneracion, the Madz are one of the most awarded choral groups throughout the world. They have been recognized by the UNESCO as Artists for Peace for “putting their fame and influence to promote cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace” and have also won top prizes in several prestigious international choral competitions. They also hold the distinction of being the first choir in the world to win the highly venerated European Grand prix for Choral Singing twice (1997 and 2007) and the first Asian choir to be accorded the BrandLaureate Premiere Award by the Asia Pacific Brands Foundation (2012). END.
Ambassador Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. giving his remarks (Embassy photo)
Ambassador Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. (2nd from left) with Guest of Honor DMW Undersecretary Jainal T. Rasul, Jr. (3rd from left), Labor Attaché Adam A. Musa (2nd from right), DMW Director Julin Ambito Fermin (far left) and Ms. Jessa E. Gallenito of MWO Lebanon (far right). (Embassy photo)
Third Secretary and Vice Consul Emile Josef B. Garcia introducing the members of the Flores De Mayo Procession (Embassy photo)
Ms. Cecille Pungyan singing “Ibon Pitpit” (Embassy photo)
Ms. Leahna Mae Guritan singing “Ako Ay Pilipino” (Embassy photo)
Filipino community members perform the Itik-Itik dance (Embassy photo)
Guests watching The Madz perform (Embassy photo)
The Madz performing during this year’s Filipino-Turkish Friendship Day (Embassy photo)
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT 16-2024 -REMINDER FOR PHILIPPINE PASSPORT HOLDERS ENTERING TÜRKİYE
The Embassy recognizes that ordinary Philippine passport holders may obtain a 30-day, single-entry e-visa, provided that they have a valid Schengen member or USA, UK, Ireland visa or residence permit as a valid supporting document. Previously used or unused single-entry visas are accepted as long as their validity date covers your entry date to Türkiye. E-visas are not accepted as valid supporting documents.
Turkish passport control officers at ports of entry can verify the e-Visa on their system. However, it is advised to keep the e-Visa with you either as a soft copy (tablet PC, smart phone, etc.) or as a hard copy in case of any failure on their system.
As in the case of other visas, respective Turkish officials at the ports of entry reserve the right to deny entry into Türkiye to a holder of an e-Visa without any explanation. The e-Visa does not provide an absolute right to enter Türkiye.
In light of recent events, the Embassy strongly advises all Philippine passport holders entering Türkiye with Turkish e-visas to bring their original valid Schengen member or USA, UK, Ireland visa or residence permit as a valid supporting document to ensure smooth entry into the country.
For consular matters (Emergency Only), please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call +90 530 447 97 43.
