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PHL Ambassador Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat (5th from left) poses for a photo with Chilean FM Alberto Van Klaveren (7th from left) and other Heads of Posts from the Embassies of: China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Viet Nam, Australia, and ROK.

 

(19 May 2023, Santiago) PHL Ambassador to Chile H.E. Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat, alongside other Ambassadors from Asia and Oceania, attended a Breakfast Meeting hosted by Chilean Foreign Minister H.E. Alberto Van Klaveren at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Teatinos, Santiago Centro. Also in attendance for the CHL side were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms. Gloria de la Fuente and Deputy Minister of International Economic Affairs Ms. Claudia Sanhueza.

Completing the Asia and Oceania Group were the Ambassadors of China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand, and Viet Nam, and Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. of Australia and the Republic of Korea.

FM Van Klaveren discussed elements of Chile's foreign policy and its efforts to diversify its foreign relations into other regions. Included in these initiatives are goals and programs to enhance Chile's footprints on: (1) multilateralism, (2) regional blocs such as APEC, CPTPP, and the Pacific Alliance, (3) development partnership with ASEAN, (4) trade agreements, (5) green and digital Economy, and (6) disaster risk reduction or DRR.

For the PHL's part, Ambassador Balatbat emphasized the Philippines's and Chile's ongoing partnerships and collaboration in energy, DRR, and culture, among other areas. She said, “the Philippines and Chile’s common cultural heritage can help bridge the physical distance between the two countries.”

She also recalled and thanked Chile for its instrumental role in formalizing the PHL's observer status in the Pacific Alliance.

Ambassador Balatbat reaffirmed the PHL's commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes and a rules-based world order. She likewise cited the 2016 Arbitral Award and UNCLOS as guideposts for the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Echoing the views of other ASEAN Ambassadors in attendance, she underscored ASEAN's crucial central role in promoting peace and stability in the Southeast Asian region.

FM Van Klaveren assumed his position as Foreign Minister on 10 March 2023.  He has had a long career in the Chilean MFA, including serving as Chile’s Ambassador to the EU, Belgium, and Luxembourg, as well as working as Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs. He is a lawyer, professor, and author specializing on International Relations, Comparative Foreign Policy, Chilean Foreign Policy, and International Law.

The Breakfast Meeting with Ambassadors from Asia and Oceania on 19 May 2023 is part of FM Van Klaveren’s series of group meetings with Ambassadors based in Santiago to exchange views on foreign policy priorities and other areas of common interest. The Foreign Minister met with the Latin American group on 18 April and European group on 20 April 2023. END

 

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Amb. Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat with H.E. Gabriel Boric and MFA Undersecretary Gloria de la Fuente (top left photo); Amb. Vinzon-Balatbat presents her Credentials to the CHL President (top right photo); Inspection of troops (middle right photo); and group photo of the Philippine Embassy team, MFA and Carabineros at the PHL Chancery. 

(Santiago, 25 April 2023) Newly arrived Philippine Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Chile, H.E. Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat, formally presented her credentials to Chilean President Gabriel Boric in an afternoon ceremony held on 25 April 2023 at the Palacio La Moneda (Presidential Palace), central Santiago.

Ambassador Balatbat was given full military honors by the Chilean Armed Forces upon her official convoy’s arrival in La Moneda.  Accompanied by Chile’s Deputy Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador marched and inspected the troops prior to entering Palace grounds for her main audience with the Chilean President.

Joined by Chief of Protocol Manahi Pakarati and the President’s Aide-de-Camp, Ambassador Balatbat entered Salon O’Higgins where President Boric and Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Gloria de la Fuente awaited. The Ambassador presented her credentials in Spanish and afterward introduced the members of her delegation, namely: Consul General Jim Tito. San Agustin, First Secretary and Consul Dennis John C. Briones, Protocol Officer Brian Peter C. Bustamante, and Secretary and Assistant to the HOP Paula Rodriquez.

During her tête-à-tête with President Boric, the two officials discussed ways to strengthen PHL-CHL relations and continue the positive momentum the two countries presently enjoy. Strategic programs and initiatives tackled included the long-term prospects of signing a PHL-CHL Free Trade Agreement (FTA), cooperation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), and collaboration within the ambit of the Pacific Alliance (Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico) where the Philippines is a new Observer. President Boric specifically conveyed his appreciation for the Ambassador’s gifts, which were delivered to the MFA’s Protocol Directorate a day prior to the ceremony. 

The official ceremony concluded with a full military and departure honors for the Ambassador, with the playing of the Lupang Hinirang serving as highlight.

As a token of appreciation, the Ambassador hosted all assisting MFA Protocol and DIRAPAC (Directorate for Asia and the Pacific) officials, and the Carabineros (Chilean National Police) at the Chancery, where they enjoyed a variety of Filipino and Chilean dishes, and ended the evening with a toast of local champagne and chardonnay.

Similarly presenting their credentials to the Chilean President on 25 April 2023 were the resident ambassadors of Honduras, El Salvador, Ecuador and Palestine. END

 

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The Philippine Embassy in Santiago team headed by incoming AEP H.E. Celeste V. Balatbat meet online with Philippine Franchise Association officials

(Santiago, 14 April 2023) Recognizing the massive potential and importance of promoting the Filipino brand worldwide, especially through its most promising franchises, the Philippine Embassy in Santiago, led by its incoming Ambassador H.E. Celeste V. Balatbat, met with officials of the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) in an online meeting to discuss how Philippine franchises could penetrate the Chilean market as well as other fast-growing Latin American economies. Ambassador Balatbat was joined by Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Jim Tito B. San Agustin and First Secretary Dennis John C. Briones, while PFA was represented by its President Chris Lim, Chairman Sherill Quintana, Mr. Jake Santos, Ms. Joanna Tomagan and Mr. Chit Esrada.

Ambassador Balatbat underscored the Philippine Embassy’s long-term objective of increasing familiarity and pioneering the entry of top Philippine franchises into the Latin American market, particularly in Chile, Peru and Ecuador (the Embassy’s main jurisdictions). PFA President Lim discussed the key pillars of Philippine franchising—Grow, Strengthen and Advocate, the importance of localizing brands with the help of local partners, and outlined upcoming major conferences, such as the International Franchise Conference, International Franchise Expo and the World Franchise Council Meeting, with some taking place in Manila this year.

Noting the challenges of large geographic distance and relative lack of familiarity between the Philippines and South American markets, Ambassador Balatbat shared the example of New Zealand’s Les Mills and its innovative strategy which successfully overcame geographic limitations and other market constraints in order to effectively reach their target clientele. Chairman Quintana welcomed this approach and acknowledged the equally significant potential of non-food or service-oriented Philippine franchises (spas, massage therapies, beauty products/services, etc.) in penetrating faraway and non-traditional markets such as Chile.

CDA San Agustin shared examples of successful international franchises which are already thriving in Chile and, in the longer-term, the significance of eventually signing a Philippines-Chile Free Trade Agreement or FTA to reinforce the entry of Filipino products and investments into the country. First Secretary Briones, based on the Embassy’s previous market scans on Chile, listed examples of promising products which are likely to sell, e.g. milk tea and pearl shakes, dimsum snacks, sauces, spa and beauty products, flavored fries, among others, and highlighted the shared Hispanic heritage between the two countries which could prove to be an advantage during product promotion. He also mentioned that Peru will be hosting APEC in 2024 which could perhaps likewise serve as jump-off point for swing visits by incoming Philippine delegations to neighboring markets.

Summarizing the most effective ways forward to sustain Embassy and PFA cooperation, Ambassador Balatbat informed PFA that the Philippine Embassy will begin its research on and meet with existing Chilean franchise associations and/or potential partners, as well as invite them to attend upcoming major franchise events in the Philippines, specifically one earmarked for October.  She also suggested and emphasized the value of a regional approach to Philippine franchise promotion in the Americas by pulling in the newly-arrived Philippine ambassadors in Mexico, Argentina and Brazil for joint activities. 

Chairman Quintana and President Lim expressed PFA’s optimism and eagerness about these projects and said that they will similarly begin identifying and listing potential Philippine franchises (both food and service-oriented) with the best prospects of selling in Latin America. END

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