JUNE 12 is a national holiday in both the Philippines and the Russian Federation.
While we Filipinos celebrate our independence from Spanish colonial rule on June 12, the Russians commemorate their state sovereignty – Russia Day — on the very same day, which marks the beginning of democratic reforms in Russia and the official dissolution of the Soviet Union.
As a demonstration of national pride, the Russians here in the Philippines celebrated Russia Day last June 13 at the Cebu Country Club, where a cocktail party was hosted by Honorary Russian Federation Consul Armi L. Garcia.
Russian Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev and his wife Elena Kudasheva led the festivities attended by several Russian nationals, travel agents, tour guides, and interpreters.
Others in attendance were members of the diplomatic and consular community in Cebu, local government officials, businessmen, and the who’s who of high society.
Among the diplomats who graced the occasion were newly-inducted Cebu Consular Corps president and Israel honorary consul Emily Benedicto Chioson with her hubby Portugal honorary consul Samuel Chioson and Canadian honorary consul Robert Lee.
Also on hand to exchange pleasantries with the Russians was the husband-and-wife tandem of Visayan Electric Co. president Dennis Garcia and Arts Council chairperson Petite Garcia, among many other notable personalities.
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