PH Embassy celebrates Philippines Migrant Workers Day

WAshINGtoN, D.C. – the Philippine embassy recently celebrated migrant Workers Day in a day-long event with members of the filipino community from maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Consistent with the theme ofW: Saan Mang Panig ng Mundo, Galing at Katatagan Mo’y Hinahangaan,” video messages of the Administrator Arnel Ignacio of the overseas Workers Welfare Administration, secretary susan ople of the Department of migrant Workers, and Philippine President ferdinand marcos Jr. were conveyed, emphasizing the huge contributions made by the overseas filipino Workers in nation-building and reiterating the continued support of the Philippine government for their welfare. moreover, Consul General Iric Cruz Arribas called on the leaders and members of the filipino community to work together in harmony to achieve higher goals for the community.

A financial literacy seminar was conducted by tax and investment expert raymond Abrea to present to ofWs several investment opportunities in the Philippines, which could grow their hard-earned money. on-site services and virtual consultation were set-up with representatives of the social security system, Pag-Ibig, overseas filipino Bank, migrant Workers office-Washington DC, and the Philippine embassy, including the overseas Voters registration Unit. the ofW Got talent singing competition and performances of local talents raina Chan and D’ Neis siblings provided entertainment throughout the day. Consul General Arribas, Assistant Labor Attache marie Josephine Borromeo and ms. Grace Valera of the Global migrant heritage foundation served as judges and declared Bernadette Gray, tony Boy Velasco, and rosie Conde as the major winners of the singing competition. the fun-filled event was orga- nized by the Philippine embassy’s migrant Workers office-oWWA Washington DC under the stewardship of Labor Attache saul de Vries and Welfare officer mae Codilla, ably assisted by volunteers from the Association of International Dynamic educators, Inc (AIDe), an organization of U.s.-based filipino teachers. (PH Embassy release)

Bruno Mars to PH crowd: ‘Miss na kita...

f ilipino audience in awe with their stellar and unforgettable performances amid the massive traffic and heavy downpour in the area.

t he loud cheering and chanting from the crowd were expected as he opened and ended the show with a bang.

Bruno started off with the song 24K magic and then followed it with some upbeat tracks, slow medley tunes and Uptown funk as his parting song.

“You look beautiful, Philippines,” the singer told the concertgoers before crooning f inesse. “We traveled a long way to come back to this place because we love this place so much. And we hope, we hope we can get this audience front and back, left and right to singin’ and dancin’ all night. Can we try that?” h e went on performing his hits, one after another, including treasure, Billionaire, m arry You and Locked out of heaven. h e even changed the part of the lyrics of Billionaire, a collaboration with travie mcCoy, to “I see my name in bright filipino lights.” Bruno further mesmerized the fans when he crooned Calling All my Lovelies and put a local spin on it. he pretended to be talking to someone on the phone and seductively said, “hey baby, I’m in the Philippines right now. And it’s been a while. It’s been four, five years since I’ve been here. But I still feel the same about you. And it’s still… miss na kita, mahal. I said miss na kita, mahal. “You don’t believe me yet? Watch this,” he continued and repeatedly sang the phrase miss na kita, mahal” with his bandmates. “Let me tell you, I miss you, girl. r emember we used to come out here…” t he f ilipino-American musician afterwards briefly played Wake Up in the sky and that’s What I Like and enamored the spectators with his dance moves in Please me. m embers of t he h ooligans had also their solo moments in between, displaying their respective skills in playing their musical instruments, such as, guitars, saxophones, drums and piano.

After a short break, Bruno came back with the sensual Versace on the floor and carried on with the classic Be my Baby by the ronettes, the ditty that his “parents would listen to” while he was “growing up back home.” the 37-year-old’s father Peter hernandez is half-Puerto rican and half-Jewish, while his mother is a f ilipina, Bernadette s an Pedro Bayot. Bruno, whose real name is Peter Gene hernandez, was born and raised in hawaii.

Using a megaphone, Bruno continued with runaway Baby and checked on the audience, “masaya ba kayo?”

“I’d like to take this opportunity to play a little game with you, alright,” he uttered. “this game is called let’s see if you remember this one. I was very fortunate and very blessed to work with some incredible artists (and be) part of the songs that I’m so proud of.” he explained the mechanics of the “game,” saying, “the way this game works is if you know the words in any of these songs that I’m about to sing I need you all singing it at the top of your lungs.” he asked the audience, “Can we try it?” and received a resounding yes for an answer. h e subsequently sat down behind the piano and took the audience on “a little trip down