Today (Thursday) is Portugal Day, the National Day of Portugal. It marks the date of Luis de Camoes’ death in June 10, 1580. Camoes wrote the Os Lusiadas, Portugal’s national epic poem celebrating Portuguese history and achievements.

Portuguese citizens and Portuguese immigrants around the world celebrate this holiday. In London, England, this year’s celebration will be held on June 21, 2010, in Streatham Common Park. In the United States, the most recognized Portugal Day celebration is the Portugal Day Festival in Newark, New Jersey.

As a European Union (EU) member-country, Portugal actively participates in EU programs of cooperation in the Philippines. Portuguese exports to the Philippines amount to about US$5 million a year.

Portugal’s main export to the Philippines are semiconductors, octopuses, holiday decorations, automotive parts and textiles, machinery, wood and dairy products.

The Portuguese Parliament approved a set of reforms that strengthened free enterprise and denationalized industries on June 1, 1989. Portugal’s economic upturn in 1996 was due basically to EU transfers and the removal of trade and other barriers.

These were decisive influences on growth in the last decade. The main industries of Portugal include textiles, wine, footwear, cork, paper, chemicals, and fish canning.

Like Spain, Portugal is historically and culturally linked to the Philippines.

The first Portuguese to set foot on Philippine soil was Ferdinand Magellan. He came to our islands in 1521 in the service of Spain.

The Portuguese and the Filipinos share the same predominant religion; some 97 percent of the Portuguese are Roman Catholics. They are also a musical people, with folk music ranging from festive songs and dances to sentimental lamentations. Traditional music was influenced by the Church, troubadours of the monarchy, and wandering minstrels. Several agreements have also been concluded between the Philippines and Portugal, ranging from cultural to business accords.

We congratulate the people and government of Portugal led by Their Excellencies, President Anibal Cavaco Silva and Prime Minister Jose Socrates, on the occasion of their National Day. We wish them success in all their endeavors.