Reports from Philippine Embassies and Consulates (As of 5 June 2009)
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Canberra PE
* 502 reported laboratory confirmed cases of A(H1N1) in Australia.
* No cases of Filipinos getting infected with the disease in Australia.
* Post has instructed the Philippine honorary consuls-general to monitor the situation in their jurisdictions.
Guangzhou PCG
* Seven reported laboratory confirmed cases of A(H1N1) in Guangdong province.
* No cases of Filipinos getting infected with the disease in Guangdong province.
* Post will continue to monitor developments.
Santiago PE
* 360 reported laboratory confirmed cases of A(H1N1) with one death in Chile.
* No Filipinos in Chile have been reported to have contracted the virus.
Toronto PCG
* 1,530 reported laboratory confirmed cases of A(H1N1) in Canada.
* No cases of Filipinos getting infected with the disease in Canada.
Xiamen PCG
* Six reported laboratory confirmed cases of A(H1N1) in Fujian province.
* Post was informed by the Fujian Foreign Affairs Office that there are no Filipinos quarantined nor infected
with the A(H1N1).
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Filipina Nurse in Riyadh Tested Positive for A(H1N1)
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5 June 2009 - The Philippines will co-host with the United States an ASEAN Regional Forum workshop that
seeks to identify national and regional actions to combat biological threats.
The ARF Workshop on Biological Threat Reduction is scheduled on June 10-11 in Makati City and will be
attended by delegates from agencies and institutions related to biosecurity such as health, law enforcement,
foreign ministry, agriculture, and science and technology.
The workshop is the first activity under the ARF Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Work Plan in the
area of biosafety and bioterrorism. It also aims to discuss global biological security issues as well as national
and international efforts to mitigate biological threats.
The workshop will serve as a venue for experts to establish a biosecurity regional network in an effort to
develop safe and stable bioscience architecture in the Asia Pacific region.
Additionally, inputs gained from the workshop will be used to develop a list of recommendations for the ARF
on how to address individual and regional biological security issues.
All 27 ARF countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization,
Interpol, and the United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs have been invited to send delegates to the
workshop.
Philippine organizations and institutions concerned with biosecurity have also been invited to participate as
observers.
The ARF is the principal forum for security dialogue in Asia. END
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Ambassador Rora Navarro-Tolentino presents Credentials to Prince Albert II of
Monaco
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5 June 2009 – Philippine Ambassador to France Rora Navarro-Tolentino, who is concurrently Philippine
Ambassador to the Principality of Monaco, presented her credentials to His Serene Highness the Sovereign
Prince Albert II at the Prince’s Palace in Monaco last May 27.
Ambassador Tolentino was accompanied by Dr. Stephen Zuellig, Philippine Honorary Consul General to
Monaco, and was received by H.S.H. Prince Albert II at the Palace’s Salon des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors). In
attendance were Mr. Jacques Boisson, Secretary of State, Mr. Georges Lisimachio, Chief of Cabinet of H.S.H.
the Prince and Mme. Mireille Pettiti, Director General of the Department of External Relations.
The formal ceremony was followed by a tête-à-tête at the Salon de Famille in which the Ambassador and the
Prince discussed the strengthening of cultural exchanges and cooperation in charitable and humanitarian
causes.
They also discussed the effects of the global economic and financial crisis. The Ambassador affirmed that the
Philippine economy remains resilient amid the global economic upheaval because of significant economic
reforms initiated by the Arroyo government well ahead of the downturn and the continued flow of foreign
exchange remittances of Filipino overseas workers.
The Ambassador thanked the Prince for Monaco’s good reception and treatment of Filipino workers in the
Principality. H.S.H. Prince Albert II acknowledged their services and likewise expressed his high esteem for
the excellent representations for the Philippines in Monaco by its long-serving Honorary Consul General, Dr.
Zuellig.
H.S.H. Prince Albert II also recalled his pleasant memories of his visit to the Philippines in 1999. Ambassador
Tolentino assured him that the Philippines will be deeply honored to welcome him to the Philippines again as
the Sovereign Prince of Monaco.
The Philippines and Monaco established diplomatic relations on 15 December 2006. The Principality of
Monaco started the accreditation of foreign ambassadors in 2006. END
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Rome PE celebrates Araw ng Watawat
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05 June 2009 - On the occasion of the Pambansang Araw ng Watawat, the Philippine Embassy in Rome,
headed by Ambassador Philippe J. Lhuillier, held a flag-raising ceremony on 28 May at the Embassy grounds.
The event also served as the kick-off ceremony in the celebration of the 111th Anniversary of Philippine
Independence Day.
Ambassador Lhuillier hosted a Filipino breakfast for the Embassy personnel after the ceremony. Ambassador
Lhuillier also formally welcomed Mr. Danilo T. Ibayan who assumed as Minister and Consul General of the
Embassy.
As in previous years, the Ambassador will host a vin d’honneur for the diplomatic corps on 12 June in
commemoration of the Philippine Independence Day.
On 14 June, the Philippine Embassy will join the Filipino community in the annual grand celebration at Piazza
Ankara. Through the representation of the Philippine Embassy, together with Filipino Consigliere Aggiunti in
Rome, the Comune di Roma Municipio II has included in its calendar the annual celebration of the Philippine
Independence Day every second Sunday of June starting this year. END
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Philippines Participates In Ottawa’s 2009 Tulip Festival
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05 June 2009—Philippine Ambassador to Canada Jose S. Brillantes reported to Foreign Affairs Secretary
Alberto G. Romulo that the Philippines participated in the 2009 Tulip Festival held at Lansdowne Park from 01
to 18 May.
The Canadian Tulip Festival is an annual event that takes place in and around Canada’s capital, Ottawa. Each
year the city springs to life with over three million tulips displayed along the ‘tulip route’ that follows the historic
and picturesque Rideau Canal. As well as the main floral showcase, the International Pavilion was set up in
Major’s Hill Park, where over 15 countries showcased their food, culture and entertainment.
The Philippines’ participation at the Tulip Festival showcased the goodness and tastefulness of popular
Philippine culinary preparations such as lumpiang-shanghai, adobo, turon and pancit.
Rhythm and skills were demonstrated highlighting Philippine music through dance performed by Montreal-
based Filipino dance troupe “Pamana ng LuzViMinda” shown in this picture performing the famous “Tinikling”
dance.
The festival had its start in 1945 when Princess Juliana of the Netherlands presented Ottawa with 100,000
tulip bulbs in appreciation for the safe haven offered to exiled Dutch royalty and the role Canadian troops
played in the liberation of the Netherlands from Nazi occupation in the Second World War.
In the years following 1945, the tulips became a symbol of international friendship as more and more events
were planned around their blooming. END
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Philippine Legislators and Finance Officials Visit in Ottawa
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05 June 2009—A Philippine delegation headed by Congresswoman Liwayway Vinzons-Chato and composed
of members of the Philippine Congress, officials from the Department of Finance and Bureau of Customs
went on an official visit to Ottawa on 12-14 May 2009.
The delegation, accompanied by Philippine Ambassador to Canada Jose S. Brillantes, met with senior level
officials from the Canadian Revenue Agency and Canada Border Services Agency in line with a proposed bill
reorganizing and integrating the current Bureau of Internal Revenue with the purely revenue function of the
Bureau of Customs into one revenue agency modeled after Canada’s revenue agency.
The proposed creation of a Philippine Revenue Authority (PRA) as provided for under House Bill No. 6007,
otherwise known as the “Philippine Revenue Authority Act”, would enhance government’s efforts at raising
revenues to finance operations of the country consistent with fiscal policy and revenue collection targets.
The bill would integrate the work of Customs and Internal Revenue aimed at ensuring that an agency is best
placed to deliver the benefits of customer service and of effective and efficient operation to the country.
The PRA will be tasked to comprehend the assessment and collection of all national internal and customs
revenues, taxes, fees, and charges. Moreover, it will enforce all forfeiture, penalties and fines connected
therewith, including the execution of judgments in all cases decided in its favor by the Court of Tax Appeals
and the ordinary courts. END
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