05 May 2019, Tel Aviv – About 170 people, including representatives from the Tel Aviv City government and members of the local and religious community in Israel, gathered at Hayarkon Park in northern Tel Aviv to commemorate the annual joint celebration of Labor Day and Flores de Mayo of the Philippine Embassy in Israel. Over a dozen Filipino community organizations participated in the Flores de Mayo parade, carrying flower arches and wearing costumes representing their hometowns in the Philippines.

The event, organized in partnership with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and Overseas Workers' Welfare Office in Israel, served as the Embassy's salute to over 25,000 Filipino caregivers in Israel, on the occasion of Philippine Labor Day.

Ambassador Neal Imperial thanked the Filipino community and the Embassy's guests for joining the celebration, and took the opportunity to honor the contributions of Filipino workers to the country's development.

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Philippine Embassy officials headed by Ambassador Neal Imperial lead the members of the Filipino community during the parade

Reading from the President’s Labor Day Message, Ambassador Imperial emphasized “…May this solemn observance inspire all of us to work together in imporving the plight of our workers by creating an environment condicive to their personal and professional growth and development. Today, we celebrate the working class not a aa tool of employers and capitalists, but as an essential catalyst for our nation’s overall progress.”

"Our working men across the country and elsewhere around the world have contributed immensely to national growth, and brought honor and pride to the nation with their excellence and global competitivenes," Labor Attaché Rodolfo Gabasan affirmed, reading from Labor Secretary Silvestre Q. Bello's message to Filipino workers.

The Filipino community concluded the celebrations with a potluck picnic after the end of the program.

The Philippine Embassy holds the annual joint celebration of Labor Day and Flores de Mayo on the first Sunday of May. --- END

This year’s winners: Queen and King; Little Princess and Little Prince with their runners-up