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PHL Ambassador to Chile H.E. Celeste Vinzon-Balabat, Guest-of-Honor H.E. Manahi Pakarati Novoa, ASEAN HOPs, and other Chilean and foreign delegates during the festivities of Kalayaan 2023 at Club 50, Las Condes

 

(Santiago, 12 June 2023) – The Philippine Embassy in Chile celebrated the 125th Celebration of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence with Chilean officials, the diplomatic corps, and other foreign guests, at a diplomatic reception and cultural/tourism showcase held at Club 50, Las Condes, on 12 June 2023 (CHL time).

In line with this year’s theme, “Kalayaan 2023: Kalayaan, Kinabukasan, Kasaysayan”, PHL Ambassador to Chile H.E. Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat (delivering her speech in Spanish) recalled how Filipino forebears bravely declared their intention to chart their own future exactly 125 years ago, thus laying the groundwork for the founding of the First Republic in Asia.  She emphasized how this theme aptly captures the Filipino value of respect for the elders, including recognition of their wise counsel in the nation’s efforts to move forward: Those who fail to recognize the past cannot hope to reach their destination. (“Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.”)

Alongside Chilean Guest-of-Honor H.E. Manahi Pakarati Novoa, Director General of Ceremonials and Protocol, and other foreign VIPs, Ambassador Balatbat acknowledged with great pride the enduring friendship between the Philippines and Chile, including the common Hispanic heritage and shared democratic values that serve as bridge to the vast physical distance between the two countries.

She also outlined forthcoming opportunities to further build on these relations, such as: (1) the PHL’s upcoming hosting of the PHL-Chile political consultations in Manila; (2) continuing partnerships between the private sector, educational institutions, and nongovernmental organizations; and (3) the approximately 1,000 Filipino community members in Chile, who all serve as instruments of understanding and friendship with Chileans.

Ambassador Balatbat reiterated her appreciation to the Chilean government for the speed and consistency with which the Navy, firefighters, Carabineros (CHL national police), and other authorities conducted search, rescue, and recovery operations for a Filipino national swept into the sea in Zapallar.

Ambassador Pakarati reciprocated Ambassador Balatbat’s toast remarks by equally recalling the now 76 years of bilateral relations and lasting friendship between the Philippines and Chile. She made mention of no less than nine bilateral agreements signed between the two countries, as well as several reciprocal support agreements which have collectively contributed and buttressed these enduring relations.

More specifically, she also looked forward with optimism on upcoming projects in: (1) disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM); (2) the holding the 1st Joint Economic Commission (JEC) in Manila later this year; (3) partnerships guided by the shared ideals of free trade and open tourism; and (4) continuing cooperation and shared visions between the Philippines and Chile within the ambit of APEC.

Ambassador Balatbat and Ambassador Pakarati jointly led the commemorative cutting of the Kalayaan 2023-themed national day cake, followed by the official photo-taking opportunity with the Papal Nuncio, DIRAPAC’s (Directorate for Asia and Pacific) Director Amb. Patricio Powell, and the Ambassadors of the ASEAN Committee in Santiago or ACS (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam, and the PHL).

As part of the program, the JIL-Chile Dance Group performed Sayaw sa Banko, a physically demanding Filipino folkdance showing some deft footwork on narrow wooden benches. The PHL Embassy also showed videos of the country’s top destinations and world-famous touristic sites.

The half-day national day celebration also featured a PHL Cultural Booth showcasing Filipino handmaid wooden decors, pearls and seashell ornaments, capiz products, and packaged food samples from the Embassy’s Fiestas Filipinas kits.  The country’s best imagery and identity icons: the Banawe Rice Terraces, the Philippine Eagle, Boracay, Palawan, among others, were likewise prominently displayed in 6-foot standees specifically printed for the event.

Filipino Kali and Arnis instructors from PTK-SMH Santiago displayed and demonstrated the use of Filipino sticks, swords, daggers, and other traditional arsenals in a secondary booth, where eager guests took turns posing with these rare weapons.

The PHL Embassy served generous servings of Filipino adobo, classic pancit, and lumpiang shanghai, alongside traditional Chilean and international hors d’oeuvres, hot and cold cocktails, and a rich assortment of beverages.

The 12 June diplomatic reception is the second of two main national day events organized by the PHL Embassy this year.  The Embassy’s FilCom Celebration of the 125th Proclamation of PHL Independence was held at the Chancery in Las Condes on 10 June 2023, with some 300 members of the Filipino community in Chile in attendance. END

 

PHL Embassy team with the JIL-Chile Dancers

Official toast between Ambassador Balatbat and GOH Amb. Manahi Pakarati

Ambassador Balatbat delivers her official remarks

GOH Amb. Pakarati reciprocates PHL Amb. Balatbat’s speech and toast remarks

Amb. Balatbat poses with the PTK-SMF Santiago Group at their Filipino weapons booth

The Kalayaan 2023-themed national day cake, and the Filipino products and artisanal items featured on the PHL Cultural Booth

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PHL Ambassador to CHL H.E. Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat, Embassy officials, and the Filipino community in Chile celebrate Kalayaan 2023. 

(Santiago, 10 June 2023) The Philippine Embassy in Chile joined more than 300 members of the Filipino community and members of their families in celebrating the 125th Proclamation of Philippine Independence, held at the PHL Chancery in Las Condes on 10 June 2023. The said event was so far the largest gathering of Filipino nationals in Chile for a PHL event.

The celebration, under this year’s theme: “Kalayaan 2023: Kalayaan, Kinabukasan, Kasaysayan,” commenced with a flag raising ceremony at the Chancery followed by a national day mass co-celebrated by Msr. Riyyan Chaves Mendoza of the Apostolic Nunciature in Chile and Fr. Mauro Bolante of Religious Congregation of the Sons of Holy Mary.

The attendees listened to the Independence Day messages from President Ferdinand R. Marcos and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo.

In her official remarks, PHL Ambassador to Chile H.E. Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat highlighted the significance of June 12 as a time to recall the courage and many sacrifices of Filipino heroes of past years.  She encouraged the community to reflect on the significance of the national day, freedom, and independence, and emphasized how the country’s past is intertwined with its present and future.

Ambassador Balatbat underlined the common Hispanic heritage, shared democratic values, and the enduring friendship between Filipinos and Chileans as bridges that connect the two countries.

She also thanked the Chilean government for the speed and consistency with which the Navy, firefighters, Carabineros (Chilean national police), and local government staff have mobilized their land, air, and sea resources to conduct search, rescue, and recovery operations for a Filipino national swept to sea in Zapallar.

She called on the Filipino community in Chile to project a positive image of the Philippines.  She said, “Be examples of the best traits of a Filipino: diligence, reliability, concern for people, willingness to walk the extra, capacity for multiple responsibilities, resourcefulness, cheerfulness, resilience, and generosity.” She also thanked the Embassy team and the FilCom leaders and members who have contributed their time, talent, energy, and other resources for the success of the national day celebration.

The half-day celebration also featured the 2023 FilCom Singing Competition—a crowd favorite—showcasing Filipino talent and creativity.

Mr. Lawrence Lanticse won the 2023 FilCom Singing Competition with his faithful rendition of Martin Rivera’s Wildflower.  He was followed by Ms. Grace Arqueno (1st runner-up) and Ms. Nonalie Dioso (2nd runner-up) with their renditions of Filipino classics Bakit Ako Mahihiya and At Ang Hirap, respectively.

Jesus Is Lord Church members added to the festive mood by performing Sayaw sa Banko and Waray-Waray.

The Embassy sponsored raffle prizes ranging from shirts to home appliances, and served Filipino favorites: adobo, pancit, lumpiang shanghai, and kaldereta. The FilCom organizations, leaders, and organizers also served popular Filipino desserts and other dishes.

The Philippine Embassy’s 10 June 2023 Independence Day Celebration with the FilCom is the first of two celebrations planned by the Embassy this year. The Embassy’s 125th Independence Day Celebration with Chilean Officials, Diplomatic Corps, and Foreign Guests will be held at the Club 50, Av. El Golf, on 12 June 2023. END

 

 

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PHL Ambassador Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat (2nd from left) poses for a photo with SUBPESCA Undersecretary Julio Salas (leftmost), SERNAPESCA National Director Maria Soledad Tapia (2nd from right), and First Secretary & Consul Dennis John C. Briones (rightmost).  

(1 June 2023, Valparaiso) PHL Ambassador to Chile H.E. Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat and First Secretary & Consul Dennis John C. Briones met with SUBPESCA Undersecretary Julio Salas and SERNAPESCA National Director Maria Soledad Tapia at the SUBPESCA Headquarters in Valparaiso, to continue and strengthen cooperation between the Philippines and Chile in the areas of aquaculture and fisheries. 

SUBPESCA is Chile’s Sub-Secretariat of Fishing and Aquaculture, while SERNAPESCA is Chile’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service under the Ministry of Economy, Development, and Tourism.

The PHL Embassy, SUBPESCA, and SERNAPESCA also discussed ways to move forward with negotiations and the signing of the PHL-CHL MOU on Cooperation in Aquaculture and Fisheries—a landmark agreement to link and foster scientific and technical exchanges between SUBPESCA, SERNAPESCA, and the PHL’s Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR). The said agreement is earmarked for signing this year.

Joining the 1 June 2023 meeting at the SUBPESCA headquarters in Valparaiso were SUBPESCA’s Head of Fisheries Development Division Juan Santibañez, Chief of Legal Division Paulo Sepulveda, and the PHL Embassy’s Interpreter Julia Carolina Farias.

The MOU on Cooperation in Aquaculture and Fisheries and concrete projects under this key agreement will also be part of the agenda items during the upcoming 6th PHL-CHL Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) in Manila in the second half of 2023. END

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 PHL Ambassador Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat and the rest of the Embassy team are given a tour of the SHOA Valparaiso headquarter and facilities, including the highly important Operations Room of the SNAM or Sistema Nacional de Alarma de Maremotos. 

(1 June 2023, Valparaiso) PHL Ambassador to Chile H.E. Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat visited the SHOA Headquarters in Valparaiso and met with Rear Admiral Arturo Oxley Lizana, Director of the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA) of the Chilean Navy, to learn more about SHOA’s best practices in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), as well as seismic and tsunami warning systems.

Rear Admiral Oxley provided the Embassy team with an overview of SHOA’s mandate, centered on providing technical assistance to the Chilean government on: (1) hydrography, (2) navigation, (3) nautical cartography, (4) nautical geography, (5) oceanography, (6) tsunami detection, (7) nautical astronomy, and (8) timekeeping (official time of Chile).  Director Oxley also gave the Embassy team a tour of the facility, including the Operations Room of Chile’s National Tsunami Warning System or SNAM (Sistema Nacional de Alarma de Maremotos).

SHOA’s tsunami detection, protocols/methodologies, and response capacities are among the most advanced in the Americas, with systems built using Chilean expertise and technology. The PHL Embassy is in turn  exploring possible cooperation and exchanges of best practices between SHOA and the PHL’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), PHIVOLCS, and possibly the PHL Navy under the ambit of the 2015 PHL-CHL MOU on DRRM.

The above areas of DRRM cooperation are envisioned to include, but will not be  limited to: (1) sharing of early warning information on tsunamis and/or quakes, (2) good practices in disaster response, preparedness, and protocols, (3) effective community action on DRRM, and (4) sound practices and policies on disaster preparedness, early detection, and mitigation.

Joining Ambassador Balatbat and Rear Admiral Oxley during the 1 June 2023 meeting and visit were PHL First Secretary & Consul Dennis John C. Briones, SHOA Deputy Director Captain Carlos Zuñiga Araya, First Lieutenant Matias Sifon Andalaft (Chief of SHOA’s Department of Oceanography), and PHL Embassy Interpreter Julia Carolina Farias.

The PHL-CHL MOU on DRRM and the formulation of specific areas of cooperation between SHOA and PHL authorities will also be discussed and advanced at the upcoming 6th PHL-CHL Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) in Manila in the second half of 2023. END

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