GOVPH

PRESIDENT DUTERTE’S SPECIAL ENVOY H.E. MARIO F. CHAN ATTENDS THE LANDMARK INAUGURATION OF CHILEAN PRESIDENT GABRIEL BORIC

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Published: 16 March 2022

Special Envoy Mario F. Chan conveys President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s message to H.E. Chilean President Gabriel Boric

(Santiago, 10-11 March 2020) – As a symbol of the strong partnership between the Philippines and Chile, and as part of the Philippine government’s initiatives to increase its presence in the South American region, Special Envoy of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and PHL Ambassador to Brasilia H.E. Mario F. Chan attended the official inauguration of new Chilean President Gabriel Boric in Santiago and Valparaiso on 10-11 March 2022.  President Boric is the youngest leader in the country’s history at only 36 years of age and is currently the 2^nd youngest head of state in the world.

President Boric’s inauguration was formally held at Chile’s Congreso Nacional in Valparaiso on 11 March and culminated in the symbolic transfer of the sash bearing the country’s national colors (white, blue and red) from former President Piñera to President-elect Boric. Special Envoy Chan, alongside other heads of delegation from across the globe, also attended the protocolar greetings to the new Chilean President held at the Palacio de la Moneda (Presidential Palace) on the same day. The Philippine Envoy delivered President Duterte’s congratulatory message and best wishes to President Boric, with the latter gamely taking a selfie with the Philippine head of delegation.

In a preceding protocolar ceremony organized at the Palacio de la Moneda on 10 March, Special Envoy Chan equally conveyed President Duterte’s best wishes to outgoing Chilean President Sebastian Piñera and thanked him for his invaluable support in strengthening Philippine-Chile relations in strategic areas.

During the two-day series of activities, Special Envoy Chan also met the resident and non-resident Ambassadors of ASEAN accredited to Chile as well as former and incoming MFA officials. The Special Envoy was joined by Chargé d’Affaires Jim Tito San Agustin, Consul Dennis John Briones, Protocol Officers Norberto Dela Rea and Jeffry Aranda, and Santiago PE local-hire Pedro Cornejo throughout the aforementioned activities while fully observing Chile’s COVID-19 health protocols and limitations in the main events.

Special Envoy Chan’s visit to Chile is the Philippine Embassy in Santiago’s first incoming high-level visit since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020 and is likewise the first high-level visit by a Philippine delegate to Chile for the Embassy’s 2022 calendar year. END

Special Envoy Chan is greeted by former Chilean President Sebastian Piñera

Special Envoy Chan poses for an official photo with former Chilean President Sebastian 

 Piñera and former Chilean Foreign Carolina Valdivia (leftmost)