16 June 2015 – Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Meynardo LB. Montealegre, along with officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy and members of the Filipino Community (FilCom), celebrated the 117th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence in a flag raising ceremony held on 12 June 2015 at the Philippine Embassy grounds.

Ambassador Montealegre was assisted by Col. Ernest Mark P. Rosal, Defense and Armed Forces Attaché (DAFA), and T/Sgt. Isidro M. Diola, Jr., ODAFA Administrative Assistant, in hoisting the Philippine flag.

The flag hoisting was followed by the “Panunumpa sa Watawat ng Pilipinas,” led by Welfare Officer Ma. Luisa Reyes, and individual prayers from the Roman Catholic group, Christian group, and the Filipino Muslim group.

Ambassador Montealegre greeted the Filipinos present prior to reading the Independence Day Message of H.E. President Benigno S. Aquino III. Messages from Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin, and Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz were also read during the ceremonies.

Among the highlights of the morning festivities included the traditional cake-cutting ceremony and the official launching in Brunei Darussalam of the iRehistro, an internet-based voter registration system (VRS) developed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

After the ceremonies, the guests comprised of FilCom organizations and Filipino workers were invited to join the breakfast fellowship, and were advised to take the opportunity to register for overseas voting for the May 2016 National Elections. The Overseas Voting facility was open for the duration of the event. END