Switzerland celebrates Natl Day in cyberspace

FROM July 26 to August 4, the Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines is staging a virtual celebration of the Swiss National Day, traditionally celebrated every August 1.

Billed #Mabuhayswitzerland, the online experience will highlight Swiss– Philippine bilateral relations, as well as Swiss gastronomy, tourism, business, and culture from computer screens to the comfort of one’s home.

As the world continues to experience a pandemic discouraging large gatherings and promotes physical distancing, the Swiss Embassy said it has taken the initiative to explore new ways to celebrate the occasion.

“For the first time, the Swiss Embassy in Manila and its partners [is holding] various efforts to celebrate an important Swiss holiday,” stated Ambassador Alain Gaschen. “These include prerecorded videos, live streams and online contests that center on Swiss culinary delights, sights and sounds, [as well as] efforts by the business community in the Philippines.”

Some of these include the chance to win a Nespresso machine by creating a Swiss emmental-style dish. Followers of the embassy’s newest social-media account on Instagram, @Swissembassyphilippines, may also bring home baskets by sharing their own Swiss memories with the #Mabuhayswitzerland hashtag. All contests and details are on the Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines Facebook page.

Gaschen noted it was important to highlight these topics as they prove central to any national day celebration. In previous years, similar celebrations involved the large Swiss community coming together for Swiss food and music, with the smell of Swiss cheese and nostalgia in the air. The embassy, along with its partners, hoped to replicate this experience online and include everyone in the celebration.

#Mabuhayswitzerland also aims to promote Swiss-philippine relations by highlighting the “Mabuhay” and “Bayanihan” spirit of the Filipino. The long-standing relationship between the two countries has resulted in numerous developments and exchanges such as the Free Trade Agreement between the Philippines and European Free Trade Association memberstates, as well as a recently launched market study that aims to understand the potential of Philippine exports in the European market.

The Swiss business community is also an important contributor to #Mabuhayswitzerland: “Swiss business investments in the Philippines started more than a hundred years ago and has developed into a strong presence in the country despite many challenges,” Philippine Swiss Business Council (PSBC) Chairman Ernesto S. Mascenon explained.

For instance, Swiss pharmaceutical giants Novartis and Roche have made significant contributions to the pandemic response of the Philippines through their respective efforts in antibody testing and a donation of P19.3 million to various Philippine health-care facilities. Another Switzerland based company, Satsure AG, was recently tapped by the Department of Agriculture to help boost its crop-insurance efforts.

Aside from these, Switzerland has also launched its #Swissnationalday platform: www.missione1agosto.org, which contains “DIY” or “do-it-yourself” activities, video tutorials, and a global contest open to all. The Swiss Embassy invites everyone to join in the celebration by following the #Mabuhayswitzerland and #Swissnationalday hashtags on Facebook and Instagram.