Damascus PE held an awarding ceremony and dance workshop with the Filipino Community and Syrian friends at the Filipino Workers' Resource Center on 11 September 2022.

Following the success of Post's celebration of the 124th Anniversary of Philippine Independence held last 12 June 2022, Post honored the dedicated people who worked tirelessly and passionately by awarding them certificates of participation as Kaagapay, Chorale, Arnis, Malong and Singkil performance members. The recipients of the certificates for the Chorale performance were not just Filipinos, but also Syrian, Indian and Armenian members as the chorale welcomed anyone who was interested to join. Filipino-Syrian artists who painted the symbolic artwork presented during the program also received certificates.

CDA Vida Soraya Verzosa opened the ceremony by highlighting the importance of Philippine Indigenous Languages as part of the Philippine culture, in line with the theme presented by the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino entitled "Filipino at mga Katutubong Wika: Kasangkapan sa Pagtuklas at Paglikha." She also thanked the recipients of the certificates for their hardwork and expressed her hopes for the same dedication and participation in Post's future events.

CDA Verzosa then proceeded to surprise the attendees with a Filipino language tongue twister game. There were two rounds: the first was participated by foreign national attendees and the second was participated by the FiiCom members. Everyone who joined received cash prizes.

After the games, CDA announced the winner of the Buwan ng Wika Poetry Reading Contest which was held last August 2022. The winner and lone contestant, Ms. Judy Ali, was awarded cash prize and a certificate. Ms. Ali also recited the poem "Sa Aking Mga Kabata" by Dr. Jose Rizal on the spot.

PHCG Wassim Nanaa delivered his closing remarks and applauded everyone's efforts and cooperation that led to the success of Post's activities. After the program, everyone partook of Filipino food such as pancit (stir-fried noodles with meat and vegetables such as chicken, carrots, onions, garlic, and cabbage), halo-halo (layered dessert consisting of sweetened beans, fruits, shaved ice drizzled with evaporated milk, and ice cream), and maja blanca (dessert made with coconut milk and corn).

After everyone was energized by the delectable merienda, the attendees formed pairs to join in the dance workshop called "Move with Pinas: Sakuting." the Move With Pinas project, organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy, in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and in cooperation with the Philippine Barangay Folk Dance Troupe, is a two-part, multi-format online event series that features Philippine traditional dances. The Sakuting dance is the second episode which showcases the traditional dance originated from Abra and interprets a fight between christians and non-Christians. It is traditionally performed during Christmas at the town plaza or performed house-to-house as a form of traditional caroling show.

The Philippine Embassy regularly conducts cultural activities as part of the Agreement on Cultural Cooperation Between the Philippine and the syrian arab Republic signed in 2009.-END