DFA to Host First Inter-Agency Celebration of International Day of UN Peacekeepers
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27 May 2009—The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is hosting the inaugural inter-agency Philippine
celebration of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on May 29, Friday.
The event is in celebration of the dedicated service of Filipino peacekeepers. The Philippines is the third
largest troop contributor in Southeast Asia and ranked 30th in the world.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, who sits as Chair of the Philippine Inter-Agency Council on UN
Peacekeeping Operations, will deliver the keynote speech.
Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, the Acting UN Resident Coordinator, will convey a message from UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-Moon.
High-ranking officials from the Department of Defense (DND) and the Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG), nearly 80 former UN peacekeepers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and
the Philippine National Police (PNP), as well as members of the diplomatic corps, including Ambassadors
and representatives from Troop and Police Contributing Countries, will grace the event.
During the event, the Dag Hammarskjold Medal will be presented to Immaculate Batalla, the widow of
Philippine Army officer Lt. Col. Renerio Batalla who died of malaria on 24 October 2008 while serving in the
UN Mission in Sudan.
The Dag Hammarskjold Medal is a posthumous award to members of peacekeeping operations who lost
their lives during service with a peacekeeping operation under the operational control and authority of the
United Nations.
On 16 April 2009, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Proclamation No. 1755 declaring May 29 of each
year as the “International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers in the Philippines” as designated in Resolution
57/129 by the United Nations General Assembly of 2002.
Over the years, Philippine peacekeepers have earned the respect and recognition of the United Nations
because of their outstanding performance and tireless commitment to maintain global peace and security.
The Philippines has sent peacekeeping missions all over the world beginning with the air force deployment in
support of the UN Mission in the Congo in 1963. Subsequent mission were sent in Afghanistan, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cote d’Ivoire, Georgia, Haiti, Iraq, Kosovo, Liberia, Nepal, Sudan and Timor-Leste.
In October 2008, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto G . Romulo
jointly signed the Memorandum of Understanding allowing the Philippines to participate in the UN Standby
Arrangement System (UNSAS) to provide resources for peacekeeping operations within agreed response
times.
The Philippine Government is looking at increasing the deployment of female peacekeepers in accordance
with this year’s theme of greater involvement by women in UN peacekeeping missions. END
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Five Rescued Filipino Fishermen Turned Over to RP Embassy in Beijing
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27 May 2009 - Five Filipino fishermen from Pangasinan who were rescued in the South China Sea were
turned over to the Philippine Embassy in Beijing last May 26.
The fishermen’s boat, Four Sisters, was drifting for almost two weeks when they were rescued by a passing
Chinese shipping vessel last May 20.
In a report to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, the Philippine Embassy in Beijing said Consul
Pablito Mendoza personally received the five fishermen at Rizhao port in China’s Shandong province. The
Embassy is making arrangements for their repatriation to the Philippines.
The five rescued fishermen from Infanta town in Pangasinan were identified as Wilson Etac, Israel Dumas,
David Querubin, Ariel Delos Angeles, and Jimmy Bajar. Four of their companions remain missing.
The Embassy has communicated with the families and relatives of the missing fishermen.
“We would like to thank the crew members of the Chinese shipping vessel Hebei Shenyong (Hebei Brave) for
their act of courage in rescuing our countrymen. This is an example of how neighbors extend a helping hand
to each other in time of need,” the Embassy said in a statement.
The fishermen left Infanta on 1 May 2009 to fish near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the South
China Sea. A few days later, the engine of their fishing boat failed forcing them to tow it towards the shoal for
repair.
When they failed to repair the boat, the fishermen decided to return to Pangasinan using their four service
boats or life rafts. However, Typhoon Emong destroyed the service boats and drifted them away to the South
China Sea. END
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Reports from Philippine Embassies and Consulates (As of 27 May 2009)
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Chicago PCG
* 2,331 probable and confirmed cases of A(H1N1) reported in 16 Midwestern states under Post’s jurisdiction.
* No reported case of any Filipino victims of A(H1N1).
Osaka PCG
* 350 reported laboratory confirmed cases of A(H1N1) in Japan.
* Post resumed normal operations on 25 May 2009. Embassy officers and staff and the transacting public are
advised to observe safety precautions such as washing hands and wearing protective masks.
Prague PE
* First reported laboratory confirmed case of A(H1N1) in Czech Republic.
* Post will continue to monitor developments regarding A(H1N1) and will disseminate information to
members of the Filipino community on how to protect themselves from contracting the disease.
Sydney PCG
* 23 reported laboratory confirmed cases of A(H1N1) in Australia.
Xiamen PCG
* First reported laboratory confirmed case of A(H1N1) in Fujian province.
* No cases of Filipinos getting infected with the disease in Fujian province.
* Post issued another advisory to the Filipino community informing them of the first case in Fujian and
reminding them to take precautionary measures against the virus.
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Fourteen Filipino Seafarers Abducted in Nigeria to Arrive in Manila
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27 May 2009 – Fourteen of the 16 Filipino crew of the vessel MV Spirit which was hijacked by militants in
Nigeria on May 13 will arrive in Manila in two batches starting tonight.
The 14 Filipino seafarers were rescued following a series of security operations conducted by Nigerian
security forces against militants in the Niger Delta.
The first batch, consisting of eight Filipino seafarers, will arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)
tonight accompanied by Mr. Geranfel T. Abrillo from the Philippine Embassy in Abuja. The rest will arrive
tomorrow, May 28.
The group will be met by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Esteban B. Conejos, Jr.
and their families.
Some seafarers sustained injuries as a result of the security operations. They have been given emergency
medical attention before their departure in Nigeria and will be immediately given further medical assistance
once again upon their arrival.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary Conejos said the Philippine Government continues to coordinate with the Nigerian
Foreign Ministry and the Nigerian State Security Services to determine the whereabouts and the condition of
the remaining two seafarers.
“We are exerting all efforts to confirm the whereabouts and condition of the two other seafarers. We have met
and are coordinating with their families in Manila,” he said.
The DFA Undersecretary reiterated that the Philippines has an existing labor deployment ban to Nigeria due to
security concerns particularly in the Niger Delta.
He is appealing to all parties concerned including local manning agents to abide by the ban.
“This recent incident where a number of Filipino seafarers were hurt in the crossfire between Nigerian security
forces and Nigerian militants highlights again the dangerous situation in the Niger Delta,” Undersecretary
Conejos said. END
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RP Embassy in Berne Meets with Roche Pharmaceutical CEO to discuss A(H1N1) and
BPO
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27 May 2009—Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland Maria Theresa P. Lazaro met with Roche Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) Dr. Severin Schwan at the Roche Headquarters in Basel.
Roche is the global market leader in innovative diagnostic and therapeutic products and services, and a
leading supplier of prescription medicines in selected therapeutic areas such as oncology, virology and
transplantation. In the first quarter of 2009, the Roche Group recorded total sales of 11.6 billion Swiss francs.
During the meeting, Ambassador Lazaro discussed with Dr. Schwan Roche’s role in addressing the Influenza
A(H1N1) strain. The company produces the antiviral flu medicine, Tamiflu. Roche is closely working with the
World Health Organization (WHO) and health officials globally by increasing its production of Tamiflu.
Meanwhile, Dr. Schwan indicated the company’s interest in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) capacity
of the Philippines. Roche has been operating in the Philippines since 1962 through its unit, Roche
Philippines. The Philippine subsidiary employs over 250 people. END
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DFA CPAs attend GACPA, visit DFA Mindanao Office
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27 May 2009—Seven Certified Public Accountants (CPA) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) arrived in
Davao City to attend the 31st Annual National Convention of the Government Association of CPAs (GACPA)
held in Davao City from May 20-22.
Shortly after their arrival, DFA Mindanao Assistant Secretary Bahnarim A. Guinomla and RCO-XI Director
Erlinda B. Albay hosted a dinner for the visitors.
Both officials received the guest at their offices and treated them to a merienda of the famous fruits of Davao,
durian and marang.
Assistant Secretary Guinomla shared with the visitors the DFA-Mindanao’s programs and plans.
The delegation included Ms. Mary Joy Ramirez, FSO IV, Principal Assistant-OFM; Ms. Magdalena Sosa, FSSO
II, Assistant Chief Accountant- Home Office Accounting (HOA); Ms. Saula P. Cruz FSSO II, Assistant-Budget
Division; Ms. Lilian C. Navalta, FSSO II, Assistant-Budget Officer; Mr. Jaime B. Bilar, FSSO II, Assistant-
Planning Division; Ms. Lowalde Comille, FSSO IV, Assistant-HOA and Mr. Christopher Baguya, FSSO IV,
Assistant-HOA. END
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RP Opens Musical Presentation at 10th Anniversary of Willkommen in Berlin
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27 May 2009 – A folk dance group composed of second-generation Filipinos opened the 10th anniversary of
Welcome to Berlin (WiB) at the German Foreign Ministry last May 19.
WiB, the sole diplomats’ club in Germany based at the Federal Foreign Office, is a forum where Germans and
foreign diplomats meet in a spirit of friendship between nations.
To make the stay of diplomats in Germany as pleasant as possible, the German members of WiB - Berlin
ladies and Foreign Service wives organize wide-ranging programs of cultural and informative events. Their
work is carried out on a voluntary basis.
During the celebration, the Philippine Embassy also donated Turrón de Banana as its culinary contribution to
the event.
The Philippine participation is in line with the celebration of the Philippine Heritage month of May to promote
Philippine arts and culture in Germany. END
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