Filcoms in Denmark and Norway Mark Independence Day in Fiesta Mood
The Filipino communities in Norway and Denmark, in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy in Oslo, celebrated Philippine Independence Day in Oslo (05 June) and Copenhagen (12 June) in traditional barrio fiesta atmosphere. Both activities also became the vehicles for uniting and inspiring the various Filipino organizations and business establishments run by Filipinos residing in the two countries.
Filcom Norway held a cultural celebration, dubbed ‘Araw ng Kalayaan-Pista ng Nayon’, on 05 June 2010 at the Storesalen Hall in downtown Oslo. The event was in three parts - salo-salo, zarzuela and halu-bilo. The first part encouraged the audience to mingle, view the exhibits and partake of the delicacies and wares prepared by the different regional groups at the lobby. The zarzuela- style cultural show traced the history and culture of the Philippines from pre-colonial times to the present in songs and dances. It stressed the presence of a distinct culture even before the coming of the Spaniards and the Americans but showed as well the cultural impacts of these countries on the Philippines. Philippine Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso who, together with the Filcom Council led the celebrations, turned on the time machine that brought back in time the audience in the fully packed Storesalen. Halu-bilo was raffle draw and dance time for all.
In Copenhagen, meanwhile, Danes woke up to a colorful parade of Filipino costumes and lively bands marching in the streets of Norrebro. The dark clouds parted for a while to shine on the parade that saw 13 Filipino organizations with their Filipino and Danish friends waving Philippine and Danish flags and displaying their respective banners. Over 1000 people filled the huge Copenhagen Culture Center to capacity. The program was complete with a fashion show, singing of uyayis and nationalistic songs, live bands, balagtasan, and the like. There was food for the body, the mind and the spirit, as each group took turns showcasing their cultural talents and praise and worship to God. Historical and cultural exhibits and a veritable food court at the Hall Café, completed the fiesta atmosphere. The life-changing inspirational concert by Ray Ann Fuentes was the event that left an indelible mark in the hearts of the Filipinos and Danes who attended it.
Members of the diplomatic corps and other VIPs graced both occasions.
The Embassy also took part in the various Independence Day celebrations of Filipinos in both countries- an outdoor cultural show featuring a search for Bb. Kalayaan at the St. Hans-Haugen Park by the NFWG, cultural presentations by the Philippine Cultural Organization and the Filipino Society Trondelag, both in Trondheim, Philippine Independence Day summer Camp by BUKLOD and Pinay Exclusive in Ebeltoft, Denmark, Bayanihan Filipiniske in Grenland, and the Bayanihan Group of Skien in southern Norway.
Ambassador Buensuceso thanked the leaders and members of the various Filipino communities in Norway and Denmark for forging unity and displaying deep love for their mother country by keeping alive its traditions and culture. She also thanked all the organizations who had indicated that part of their proceeds would go to helping charitable causes in the Philippines.
