Filipino Community Joins National Day Parade
Fellowship with Bro. Bennett with Thomasian Triskelions during his short vacation in Manila last May 2007.
Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Virginia H. Benavidez reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that about 100 members of the Filipino community and Embassy staff joined the parade in celebration of Brunei Darussalam’s 23rd National Day on 24 February 2007. The Filipino community, with Mr. Silverio Antonio “Bennett” F. Palad III(UST Chapter ‘82), the Filipino coach of the Brunei National Basketball Team, leading them during the parade, marched past His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. The Filipino contingent, with their buri hats decorated in colors of the Philippine flag donned over their multi-colored distinctively designed and eye-catching Filipiniana attire, attracted the attention and appreciation of His Majesty and of the members of the media present. Ambassador Benavidez expressed her appreciation to the Brunei Government for inviting the Filipino community to participate in the national day parade. She added that the Filipino community’s participation raises the profile of the Filipino people and projects the identity and culture of the Philippines in Brunei. “It is also a wonderful opportunity for the Filipino Community in Brunei to join the people of Brunei in celebrating this auspicious event and to show their appreciation and closeness as friends, neighbors and partners,” she added.
Other foreign communities that participated in the event were the Indian and Malaysian contingents.
Brod Bennett Palad(UST Chapter 1983) is the star player of the UST Glowing Goldies in the 80’s and became an MVP in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) before joining the crowd favorite Ginebra San Miguel in the Philippine Basketball Association in the 90s.
At present he is the coach of Brunei National Basketball Team. He is also the Vice President of Filipino Community in Brunei. Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity is the only recognized Fraternity in the Kingdom of Brunei Darussalam.