PH embassy in Argentina celebrates the El Día del Patron festivities by joining the Escuela No. 13, Distrito Escolar 20 – Republica de Filipinas
By Poch Eulalia
The Philippine embassy in Argentina participated in this year’s Dia del Patrono (Day of the Sponsor) at the Escuela No. 13 Distrito Escolar 20 – República de Filipinas in the district of
Mataderos, City of Buenos Aires. Estudiar para ser libre (studying to be free) was the theme this year.
Students readied several presentations, workshops, and games highlighting the similarities between Philippine and Argentine culture and history.
Carried into the venue as part of the program’s opening ceremonies were the flags of the two countries, followed immediately—and with dramatic flair—by the singing of the national anthems.
Sixth-grade students danced the tinikling, after which a demonstration of the Filipino martial arts arnis by the local martial arts group Kombatan Argentina took place. To cap the event, first graders performed a rendition of the Filipino nursery rhyme, “Paa, Tuhod, Balikat, Ulo (Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes).”
Anasarias also led a discussion of the history shared by the Filipinos and the Argentines despite the distance between them, tracing connections through the family of Argentine liberator General Jose de San Martin.
Chargé d’affaires Jason Jovencio Anasarrias of the Philippine embassy in Buenos Aires shared that the reason the Argentine school was named after the Philippines was to celebrate the establishment of bilateral relations between the two countries in August 1948. Both are looking forward to the 75th year of diplomatic ties in 2023.
Anasaras also led a discussion of the history shared by the Filipinos and the Argentines despite the distance between them, tracing connections through the family of Argentine liberator General Jose de San Martin, whose elder brother Colonel Juan Fermin Rafael de San Martin settled down in the Philippines, commanding the Luzon Hussars.
The Escuela Numero 13 Distrito Escolar 20 - República de Filipinas in Mataderos, Buenos Aires is one of two Argentine schools named after the Philippines. The other one, Escuela Primaria Nº30 República de Filipinas, is located in Chivilcoy, Province of Buenos Aires.