28 July 2024 – The Philippine Embassy in Ankara hosted an Appreciation Day for the Filipino Community in Ankara in a program held on 28 July 2024, at the grounds of the Philippine Embassy, to honor and give thanks to the Filipino community members for their various contributions to the success of the events in June commemorating the 126th Philippine Independence Day and the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of the Philippines-Türkiye diplomatic relations.
The Filipino community members in Ankara with Ambassador Henry S. Bensurto Jr. and Madame Ann Mariza N. Sanchez-Bensurto (center) recite the Spark-Connect-Empower campaign slogan “Pinay Ako, Taas Noo; Pinoy Ako, Proud Ako.” (Embassy photo)
The Philippine Embassy, led by Ambassador Henry S. Bensurto Jr. and Madame Ann Mariza N. Sanchez-Bensurto, presented certificates of appreciation to the community leaders and coordinators, volunteers and cultural performers who contributed to the first Filipino-Turkish Friendship Day held on 16 June 2024 at the Meryem Ana Church grounds, and gave recognition to the nine (9) individuals who participated in the call for logo design submission for the commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of PH-TR diplomatic relations.
The program began with the singing of the Philippine and Turkish National Anthems followed by the opening prayer led by Ms. Nalida Bonto, a member of the Meryem Ana Church Filipino choir. A video was shown featuring all the events organized by the Embassy and the community in June and the submitted 75th logo designs.
In his remarks, Ambassador Bensurto expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Filipino community for their talent, dedication and effort, to accomplish a successful event, the first Filipino-Turkish Friendship Day, and hoped for more collaborations with the Filipino community in the future. He also announced the newly-designed reception area of the Embassy which created an environment for the Filipinos who are visiting the Embassy to be at home, and the new Albert F. del Rosario (ADR) Hall in honor of former Secretary del Rosario, who was the Secretary of Foreign Affairs when the Philippines filed arbitration proceedings against China in 2012.
Ambassador Henry S. Bensurto Jr. delivers his remarks before the more than sixty (60) Filipino community members who attended the Appreciation Day held on 28 July 2024. (Embassy photo)
“The ADR hall is for us to be reminded of what the Filipino is, and why it is worth fighting for. Ang ating pong pakikipaglaban, ang atin pong pagtayo sa bawat Pilipino ay hindi lamang po sa West Philippine Sea kundi saan man na naroroon ang Pilipino, isa man siya, sampu man siya o isang daan siya [Our fight for and our standing up for every Filipino is not only in the West Philippine Sea but wherever there is a Filipino, whether one, ten or a hundred], for as long as there is a Filipino, a single one, that single Filipino is worth standing up for,” he said.
Mr. Clark Galang from the Philippine Embassy in Ankara receives his Certificate of Appreciation from Ambassador and Mme. Henry S. Bensurto Jr. and Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Col. Harold Argamosa, for his winning logo design to be used as the official logo for the 75th anniversary of the PH-TR diplomatic relations. (Embassy photo)
Ambassador Henry S. Bensurto Jr. and Madame Ann Mariza N. Sanchez-Bensurto with Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Col. Harold Argamosa present certificates of appreciation to the Filipino youth Tinikling dancers. (Embassy photo).
Ambassador Bensurto also introduced the concept of Spark*Connect*Empower (SCE) as the Embassy’s thrust, which aims to spark love to our country for every Filipino, to establish connections with their culture and with their families back home and to be empowered as an individual and as a community. He also announced the proposed Ambassadors’ Tour, in partnership with government agencies and the private sector, as a project that would offer a tour program, at a reduced cost, to OFWs, their employers, Filipino-Turkish families, and other interested individuals to be able to visit the Philippines.
Filipino community members pose at the newly-designed Embassy reception room featuring the masks donated by the Bacolod City Government. (Photo courtesy of Ms. Melanie Galo and Ms. Jhanice Guzman).
The program continued with the awarding of individual certificates of appreciation to the logo design participants and the Filipino community leaders, volunteers and performers. It ended with the community singing of the Spark*Connect*Empower theme song entitled, “Pinoy Ako, Proud Ako,” composed by Ambassador Bensurto.
The guests enjoyed the Filipino food served, including inihaw na liempo (roasted pork belly), lumpiang shanghai (spring rolls), pancit (Filipino noodles), spaghetti, kakanin (Filipino rice cake desserts), and gulaman (jelly) beverage. END
