Vietnam - Philippines Friendship Association President Appointed

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien was elected as president of the Vietnam - Philippines Friendship Association.

Hannah Nguyen

ngminhphuong26@gmail.com October 23, 2021 | 13:38

MARD Deputy Minister Becomes Vietnam - Philippines Friendship Association's President

At the congress in Hanoi. Photo: VUFO

The Vietnam - Philippines Friendship Association (under the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations) on Oct. 21 held the second National Congress of Deputies, the 2021-2026 term.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Phung Duc Tien, was elected to hold the position of president of the friendship association for the term 2021-2026.

The report at the congress showed that, for the 2014-2020 term, the Vietnam - Philippines Friendship Association held many activities to strengthen the friendly cooperation relationship between the two countries.

In particular, the association organized many activities, mobilized the wide participation of organizations and individuals, contributing to promoting understanding and developing friendship and solidarity between the two peoples of Vietnam and Philippines.

At the congress in Hanoi. Photo: VUFO

In addition to friendship exchange events, Vietnam - Philippines Friendship Association has coordinated with partners to hold many practical activities such as building a friendship monument of President Ho Chi Minh and national hero Jose Rizal at Thai Nguyen University and Laguna State Polytechnic University’s four campuses; coordinated with the Philippine Embassy in Hanoi and Thai Nguyen University to organize two seminars, research, write articles and give interviews on Vietnam - Philippines friendship relations.

The delegates agreed that the goal for the 2021-2026 term was to continue to innovate and improve the operational efficiency of the Vietnam - Philippines Friendship Association, to strengthen and develop member organizations in localities; building and establishing relationships with Filipino partners; connect some localities of Vietnam to cooperate with localities of the Philippines; strengthen activities to promote economic-trade cooperation, education, training and information sharing.

President of the Vietnam - Philippines Friendship Association Phung Duc Tien spoke at the congress. Photo: VUFO

Phung Duc Tien, President of the Vietnam - Philippines Friendship Association, expressed his honor to receive the task and pledged to work with the association's Executive Board to well implement the direction of activities.

Congratulating the success of the congress, Ambassador of the Philippines to Vietnam Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre, along with the President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Phuong Nga, said they welcomed and appreciated the contribution of the Vietnam Friendship Association - The Philippines in strengthening solidarity and friendship between the two peoples.

Ambassador Montealegre said that since its establishment, the Vietnam - Philippines Friendship Association has made important strides, deepening the people-to-people diplomacy between the country. The association has been and is an enthusiastic partner in tightening the relationship between the Philippines and Vietnam.

President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Phuong Nga took the occassion to present the medal "For peace and friendship among nations" to Vu Van Tam, president of the Vietnam - Philippines Friendship Association for the 2014-2021 term.

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations also awarded certificates of merit to the collective, medals and certificates of merit to individuals with outstanding achievements in the last term.

The Embassy of the Philippines in Vietnam and the Vietnam-Philippines Friendship Association held a ceremony to inaugurate the statues of President Ho Chi Minh and Filipino National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal, situated on the campus of the International School – Thai Nguyen University.

Vietnam and the Philippines set up diplomatic ties on July 12, 1976. Since then, bilateral ties have been growing in various spheres, including politics, economy, defence, security, educational cooperation, culture, social and science-technology.

In the Philippines, the stone busts of the two heroes installed at the façade of each of the Laguna State Polytechnic University’s four campuses for everyone to remember them and pay homage.

The initiative to install a bust of the national hero of the Philippines Dr.Jose Rizal side by side with President Ho Chi Minh at Thai Nguyen University was to educate the young generations about the wisdom, strong will and love for the country of the people and of President Ho Chi Minh and Dr. Jose Rizal, two past heroes and leaders of Vietnam and the Philippines.

Educated in France, Spain and Germany, Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal lived and traveled extensively in Europe and Asia.

Rizal was a prominent figure of political and social reform movements during the Spanish colonial era. His prolific political writings and appeals to the public triggered the Philippines Revolution of August 1896.

On Dec. 26, 1896, after a trial, Rizal was sentenced to die, convicted of rebellion, sedition, and of forming illegal association.

On the eve of his execution while confined in Fort Santiago, Rizal wrote a poem Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell) and hid it inside the gas burner and gave the gas burner to his sister Trinidad and his wife Josephine.

He was executed on Dec. 30, 1896 at the age of 35 by a firing squad at Bagumbayan, now known as Luneta Park in Manila.

Jose Rizal was a man of many accomplishments - a linguist, a novelist, a poet, a scientist, a doctor, a painter, an educator, a reformer, and a visionary, he left his people his greatest patriotic poem, Mi Ultimo Adios to serve as an inspiration for the next generations.

Revered as a national hero, the anniversary of Jose Rizal’s death has been designated a public holiday in the Philippines, named ‘Rizal Day.’

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