Brasilia PE celebrates 115th Independence Day, swears in new Honorary Consul General

Dr. Somchai Ansuj was sworn in as the new Philippine Honorary Consul General of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil on 12 June 2013 coinciding with the ceremonies commemorating the 115th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence at the Embassy grounds.

The National Day celebration started with the flag-raising ceremony followed by the laying of wreath at Rizal’s bust where Ambassador Eva Betita was assisted by Dr. Ansuj. Thereafter, Dr. Ansuj, in the presence of his wife, Angela, and son, Bryan, took his oath before Ambassador Betita as the seventh Honorary Consular Officer under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Brasilia.

After the oath-taking, Dr. Ansuj, his family and friends and members of the Filipino community were treated to a reception featuring traditional Filipino food.

Even before his official appointment as Philippine Honorary Consul General, Dr. Ansuj has been assisting the Philippine Embassy particularly in exploring business opportunities for Brazilian and Filipino businessmen and in seeing to it that there were no Filipino victims affected by the fire incident in Santa Maria, Brazil last January, among others.

In 2012, Dr. Ansuj organized, in coordination with Sheraton Hotel and the Philippine Embassy, the 1st Philippine Food Festival in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sulwhere Filipino cuisine was prominently featured in the said hotel.