Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. and Consul General to Kuwait Mohd. Noordin Pendosina N. Lomondot reads the 2020 Independence Day message of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. (Kuwait PE screenshot)
Against the odds brought about by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait on 12 June 2020 celebrated the 122nd anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence through an informative and meaningful online program that features the upcoming Philippine Quincentennial commemorations, and a tribute to all Filipino COVID-19 front liners.
In his Independence Day message, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. and Consul General to Kuwait Mohd. Noordin Pendosina N. Lomondot called upon all Filipinos in Kuwait “to work together, hand in hand, to stop the COVID-19 pandemic from further destroying the lives of our countrymen.” “In unity, we can defeat our unseen enemy, the COVID-19,” Chargé d’Affaires Lomondot said.
“I encourage all overseas Filipinos in Kuwait to stand firmly united in assisting our kababayans… I am confident that we will ultimately defeat the COVID pandemic and, in unity, we can free end save our country from the challenges of this pandemic,” the Chargé d’Affaires added.
Hosted by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Adrian Audrey L. Baccay, the online program featured Chargé d’Affaires Lomondot, who delivered from his home the Independence Day message of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Meanwhile, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Charleson C. Hermosura read the Independence Day message of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr.
In line with 2020 Independence Day theme, “Tungo Sa Bansang Malaya, Nagbabayanihan At Ligtas,” the Embassy’s online program featured the quincentennial commemorations in the Philippines in 2021, which will mark the 500th anniversary of the victory of Lapulapu at the Battle of Mactan and humankind’s first circumnavigation of the world. Informative videos from the Department of Health on preventing the spread of the COVID-19 were also played during the program.
The highlight of the Embassy’s virtual Independence Day celebration was its tribute to the Filipino COVID-19 front liners, featuring messages of gratitude from leaders and members of the Filipino community in Kuwait. “Salamat sa inyong serbisyo at buwis-buhay upang maprotektahan at masalba ang aming mga buhay. Sana po ay palagi kayong gabayan ng ating Panginoon,” said Oliver Tupaz Diong, President of the Coalition of Filipino Community Organizations in Kuwait.
The tribute video was followed by an original song entitled “We Will Fight: One Heart, One Soul, which was composed by OFW Jumel Carvajal, and was sung by his children Peter Daniel and Mel Sebastian. The music video pays homage to the Filipino COVID-19 front liners in Kuwait, and remembers those who lost their lives due to the pandemic.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown in Kuwait, the Embassy cancelled all community gatherings for its annual Independence Day commemoration, and instead produced a 50-minute video presentation that premiered on Facebook on June 12. The Embassy’s online program currently has more than 20,000 views on Facebook. END
Members of the Filipino community in Kuwait express their gratitude to their kababayan on the front lines of the battle against the Coronavirus Disease 2019. (Kuwait PE screenshot)
CLICK THROUGH TO WATCH THE EMBASSY'S 2020 INDEPENDENCE DAY ONLINE PROGRAM ON FACEBOOK.
Visit the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait's Coronavirus Disease 2019 webpage for the latest updates and advisories on the COVID-19 situation in Kuwait: https://kuwaitpe.dfa.gov.ph/covid19
