Philippine Embassy in Tokyo Celebrates 150th Birth Anniversary of Apolinario Mabini
The officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo led by Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez held a ceremony at the Embassy on 23 July 2014 to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of the Filipino revolutionary hero Apolinario Mabini.
The ceremony began with the singing of the national anthem by all Embassy personnel, followed by an invocation led by Ms. Thelma Divino. Ambassador Lopez (photo below) delivered a commemorative message urging everyone take inspiration from Mabini, the “Brains of the Revolution” and “Sublime Paralytic” who served as the first Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines under President Emilio Aguinaldo.
Following the Ambassador’s message, the Embassy personnel watched video clips featuring the life of Mabini and Ang Tunay na Dekalogo (The True Decalogue), a set of ten rules which Mabini urged every Filipino to hold dear. Deputy Chief of Mission Gilberto G.B. Asuque also discussed Ang Tunay na Dekalogo in his commentary on Mabini’s principles and how these apply to public servants at present.
On a related note, the Association of Filipinos Students in Japan (AFSJ) has planned a discussion on Mabini’s life and Decalogue in the group’s Pinoy Talks series to be held on 16 August 2014.