CDA Marcos A.S. Punsalang poses with Universidad Catolica’s International Relations Students

(Santiago, 10 May 2018) – In line with the Philippine Embassy’s efforts to increase awareness about the Philippines, specifically by Chilean academics and students, Chargé d’Affaires Marcos A.S. Punsalang held a lecture on Philippine development issues and challenges at the Universidad Catolica de Chile on 10 May 2018. In attendance were International Relations students of from the Faculty of History, Geography and Political Science.

CDA Punsalang displayed statistics explaining the sound macroeconomic fundamentals fueling the stellar growth of the Philippine economy and outlined the 10-point Socio-Economic Agenda of the Duterte administration supporting this momentum. He also critiqued a presentation made by students on the same topic and responded to queries on ASEAN, labor migration, alleged extrajudicial killings, terrorism, the South China Sea dispute, and the very recent Philippine-Kuwait diplomatic row.

Professor Nicole Jenne, facilitator of the event, conveyed the Universidad Catolica’s profound appreciation for the Embassy’s lecture and, more importantly, for the Embassy’s clarification about the Philippine government’s position and initiatives in resolving these pressing issues. The Embassy underscored to the attendees that many of the government’s ongoing and very positive efforts to resolve these issues are done through diplomatic channels which do not always appear in mainstream dailies and international media.

CDA Punsalang was joined by Consul Dennis John Briones in the Q & A and open forum. This is his second year lecturing at the Universidad Catolica. END