(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has declared August of every year as ASEAN Month through the issuance of the Proclamation No. 282 which Malacanang released on Wednesday, August 8, the exact date of the ASEAN’s 50th anniversary.
Malacañang said the President signed the proclamation on July 31.
“Proclamation No. 282 declared August of every year as ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Month, in a bid to further promote and heighten public awareness of ASEAN,” a Palace release said.
This amended the previous Proclamation (No. 1008, series of 1997), proclaiming August 7 to 13 of every year as “ASEAN Week”.
“All government agencies, especially the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and Industry, and Commission on Higher Education, are enjoined to initiate and implement programs and activities to help generate awareness and public support in promoting the observance of ASEAN Month in the various offices, schools, universities, local government units, and business establishments,” the Proclamation stated.
The Philippines, as a founding member, has been actively involved in the ASEAN. The country’s Chairmanship of the ASEAN this year coincided with the regional bloc’s 50th anniversary, which was celebrated in Manila on August 8.
Meanwhile, the ASEAN commemorated its 50th founding anniversary on Tuesday, August 8, with a grand parade.
The grand parade started at 3:00 p.m. with a ceremonial blowing of horns by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sea vessels at Pier 15 of the Manila South Harbor. Multi -role response vessels BRP Capones and Suluan and search and rescue ship BRP Davao del Norte were dispatched by the coast guard for the ceremony.
After the blowing of horns rite, participants in the parade, consisted mostly of students from various schools, began to march from the south of Rizal Park through Roxas Boulevard going to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) for the culminating landmark lighting activity.
A Sarimanok-inspired ASEAN float designed by Filipino visual artist Toym Imao led the parade, with 20 models from Sindaw Philippines Performing Arts Guild, dressed in the national costumes of the ASEAN countries, on board. Preceding the march were the PCG Symphonic Band Roster of Troops and 11 flag bearers from the Far Eastern University (FEU) President’s Committee on Culture.
Hundreds of students from various schools and contingents from the Department of Education (DepEd) and other government agencies participated in the parade. They were grouped to represent each member state of ASEAN, with matching Higantes or paper mâché giants made by Angono artists donning various national costumes.
(with a PCO report)
