THE 80th Anniversary of Victory Day -- an enduring symbol of Russian national pride -- was solemnly commemorated on May 9, 2025, at the Russian Consulate in Armson Complex, P. Remedio Street, Mandaue City, Cebu.
Led by His Excellency Russian Ambassador Marat Ignatyevich Pavlov and Consul Armi Lopez-Garcia, the gathering brought together Russian nationals and Cebuanos for a brief program, a moment of prayer, and the traditional vodka toast.
Victory Day, observed every May 9, is Russia’s most significant non-religious holiday. It marks the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II -- a hard-fought victory achieved at the cost of an estimated 24 million lives. The annual commemoration honors the courage, resilience, and sacrifice of those who fought and fell during the Great Patriotic War.
This year’s observance in Cebu served not only as a solemn remembrance of the past but also as a reaffirmation of the values of unity, sacrifice, and patriotism that Victory Day continues to uphold. (Juan Carlo de Vela)