Photos: Guests, Church leaders and Heads of Ministries during the International Prayer Gathering

Chargée d’affaires Vida Soraya Verzosa delivers her opening remarks

DAMASCUS, Syria- On 25 November 2021, the Philippine Embassy in Damascus headed by Chargée d’ affaires, a.i. Vida Soraya S. Verzosa celebrated the National Children’s Month and International Prayer Gathering for World Children’s Day 2021 with the theme “No Child Left Behind: Praying for Rights of All Children” #BuwanNgMgaBata at the Chancery.

The event was attended by the Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Aleppo, Intercessors for the Philippines (IFP), WinSyria, and other churches in Syria and in the Philippines.

This was a celebration of Filipino spirituality and inter-faith dialogue with international church partners geared towards offering up prayer intercession on the occasion of World Children’s Day 2021.  It showcased different prayers from various church leaders and heads of ministries such as the Mariamite Cathedral, Paul the Apostle Church, Saint Elias Church, Maranatha Free Evangelical Church, House of Hope, Lady of Damascus, WinSyria and Focolare Movement Work of Mary.

The prayer gathering was also shown via Facebook Live and was attended by Intercessors for Philippines (IFP) via Google Meet.  In view of the current situation, leveraging digital diplomacy as a method to connect church leaders in the Philippines entailed using Social Networking tools and other online platforms such as Google Meet and Facebook Live.

IFP Bishop and Chairman Daniel Balais delivers his message (Right photo) Members of IFP and attendees via Google Meet (Left Photo)

CDA Verzosa led the celebration and welcomed the guests, brothers and sisters in Christ to this pioneering event.  In her remarks, she said that this is a unique celebration of Filipino and Syrian spirituality and inter-faith dialogue culminating in opening the doors of the Chancery to the faith-based communities in Syria, for the very first time.  She also mentioned that the annual celebration is a commemoration of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on 20 November 1989 under Republic Act 10661.  Since the global onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, environments where children thrive were disrupted and these affect the rights of the children to survive, develop, to be protected, and participate safely and fully.

Videos of prayer messages from IFP officials were shown during the event.  Bishop Daniel Balais, Chairman and Brother Ed De Guzman, Vice-Chairman and Sister Nona Londonio shared their messages and prayers for Syria.  Messages from children of the Philippine Embassy personnel and other Syrian children were also shown including the Aramaic prayer and song from the Orphanage of the Our Lady of Seidnaya Monastery.

Intercessors for the Philippines Inc. (IFP) is an inter-denominational national prayer movement which started in 1989. Its mission is to equip the Body of Christ to be an “Ezer Bride” in this end-time season and to mobilize them to pray for national revival and transformation of the Philippines to become a God-fearing, blessed and prosperous nation under God. IFP networks with religious organizations and churches across denominational lines throughout the country.

The guests also introduced their ministries to all the participants and expressed their messages through prayers.  They were also given souvenir programs with the English and Arabic translations of all the songs and presentations, as well as promotional materials on the Philippines.

The Philippine Embassy initiated this month-long celebration to raise awareness on the rights  of the children of the Philippines and Syria through this International Prayer Gathering.

CDA Verzosa joins the members of WinSyria while singing praise and worship songs during the gathering

 The program ended with some praise and worship songs and Philippine cuisine was served to the guests after the program.  Afterwards, CDA Verzosa awarded them Certificates of Participation together with boxes of customized pili nut-mango chocolate and crocheted cross bookmarks from Sister Mary Jarjour.  COVID-19 Health protocols and security measures were observed during the entire event.  END.