Bangkok, 14 June 2022 -- Philippine Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Millicent Cruz Paredes led the commemoration of the 124^th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence on Sunday, 12 June 2022 at the Philippine Embassy grounds.

Ambassador Paredes highlighted that this year’s Independence Day theme, “Rise Towards the Challenge of a New Beginning” or “Pagsuong sa Hamon ng Panibagong Bukas,” is very appropriate as the country embarks on a path of economic recovery and growth from the pandemic. She also expressed looking forward to another significant new beginning, the smooth transition from the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to that of President-elect Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr., and wished the success of the new leadership and the advancement of the Filipino nation.

The Ambassador also took the opportunity to call on Filipinos in Thailand to continue a new tradition initiated by the Embassy to donate blood to the Thai Red Cross Society every 14^th of June, in commemoration of the 73^rd Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Thailand, and as a gesture of goodwill to the country that they consider as their second home. END