EU Ambassador Luc Véron reiterates strong partnership and friendship between the EU and the Philippines
By THEPHILBIZNEWS STAFF
To mark Europe Day 2023, the Rizal Monument and the Musical Dancing Fountain in Rizal Park lit up in blue and yellow colors representing the color of the European Union flag two days before the celebration of Europe Day 2023.
European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Véron shared his pride and sees a deeper relationship between the Philippines and Europe.
“I am delighted and honoured to be here in Rizal Park for the second time in line with the lighting of the Rizal Monument and the Musical Dancing Fountain in celebration of the Europe Day,” Véron said.
“I thank Executive Director Lorenzana and the Honourable Secretary Frasco for the kind accommodation of our request once again to illuminate the two historic sites in this national park on the occasion of the founding of the European Union,” he added.
Ambassador Véron said that Rizal Park, as a national park, has many connections to Europe. Rediscovering the national park is also like rediscovering the history of the Philippines and the Filipino people.
He also bared that the Rizal Park started in 1820 with the completion of the Paseo de Luneta; the shrine was inaugurated in 1913 in line with the 17th death anniversary of Jose Rizal. The drinking fountain, as I was made to understand, was shipped all the way from Heidelberg, Germany where Rizal also studied.
There are many interesting trivia about this Park and Europe.
The head of the delegation of the European Union said that the lighting the Rizal monument and the dancing fountain two days before our Europe Day celebrations is most significant for the EU Delegation.
“Europe Day celebrates peace and unity in Europe. European nations struggled to overcome the devastation brought about by World War II. Committed to prevent another war, European governments concluded that pooling coal and steel production would – in the words of the Declaration – make war between historic rivals “not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible,” he said.
What resulted now is a strong political Union of 27 nations united in their diversity with nearly half of a billion citizens, a global and security actor, and a reliable partner.
In the Philippines, Europe Day has become an opportunity for us to celebrate the friendship and partnership with the Filipino people.
“Let us all enjoy Rizal Park and the Rizal monument and the dancing fountain in EU colours tonight,” Véron said.
The Europe Day is held every May 9 to mark the anniversary of the historic Schuman Declaration, which is the establishment of the 27 member-state of the European Union.