Opening of Fiesta Filipinas and Chasing Colors in Jakarta
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10 June 2009 - In celebration of 111 years of Philippine Independence and 60 years of Philippines-Indonesia
relations, the Millennium Hotel Sirih Jakarta led by Mr. Manny Q. Mercado, its Filipino General Manager,
launched two events on 08 June 2009, namely: “Chasing Colors,” a painting exhibit by the members of
Philippine Women for Art at the hotel lobby, and Fiesta Filipinas, a Philippine culinary festival with Filipino
guest chefs from the Heritage Hotel Manila at Cafe Sirih of the hotel. Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia
Vidal Erfe Querol and Madame Marieta S. Querol, graced both occasions with their presence. END
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Statement of Foreign Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, concerning the 09 June Terrorist
Bombing of the Pearl Continental Hotel, in Peshawar, Pakistan
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The Philippine Government condemns in the strongest possible terms last Tuesday night’s bombing of the
Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar, Pakistan, that claimed the lives of 11 people - including long-time
Filipino UNICEF Staff Worker Ms. Perseveranda So - and injured countless others.
This senseless terrorist attack on innocent civilians is an unspeakable crime and can never be justified. That
such a despicable act was carried out against an establishment known to house international and local
humanitarian workers and UN staff members only further underscores the imperative to respect, in all
circumstances, the safety and security of United Nations personnel. The Philippine Government affirms its
commitment to working with the UN system and Member States in ensuring that this principle is observed.
I send my prayers to the family and loved ones of Ms. So, who has worked with UNICEF since 1994 and who
was serving as a respected Chief of Education in Pakistan at the time of her untimely demise. The Filipino
people joins the UNICEF in mourning the loss of an exemplary international civil servant who had dedicated
and risked her life to helping Pakistani girls gain access to education.
I have instructed the Philippine Embassy in Islamabad to coordinate with Pakistani and UNICEF authorities to
facilitate the repatriation of the remains of Ms. So, and to regularly update ;the Department concerning
developments. END
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DFA holds Premiere of Documentary “The Forgotten War” to commemorate RP-Korea
Diplomatic Relations
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10 June 2009 – To commemorate 60 years of Philippines-Republic of Korea (ROK) diplomatic relations, the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) sponsored the Philippine premiere of the documentary film “The
Forgotten War”.
The National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) co-sponsored the Manila debut of the 90-minute
independent film at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last June 9.
“The Forgotten War” features Filipino soldiers who comprised the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea
(PEFTOK) and fought under the auspices of the United Nations Command during the Korean War from 1950
to 1953.
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto G. Romulo and former President Fidel V. Ramos, who served with the
PEFTOK as a young 2nd Lieutenant and reconnaissance platoon leader with the 20th Battalion Combat
Team, graced the event.
Also in attendance were the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines, H.E. Choi Joong-kyung;
members of the diplomatic corps; Nestor O. Jardin, president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines; and
DFA and NCCA officials.
In his remarks at the premiere, Secretary Romulo noted “… few bilateral relations rival the history and depth
that binds the ties between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea … Tonight, we honor our countries’
friendship through a film called “The Forgotten War”, which will take us back in time and remind us, with
cinematic artistry, how Philippine-Republic of Korea ties were forged in the spirit of courage and sacrifice.”
Secretary Romulo also paid homage to the Filipino soldiers who served in the Korean War, stating, “Let us not
forget…the heroism and bravery of our Filipino soldiers and compatriots when they shed their blood and
watered the seeds of Philippine-Korean brotherhood.”
“I sincerely hope that this film will inspire young generations of Filipinos and Koreans to move and work
together as old friends, and friends for life, for a better and brighter tomorrow, for our peoples’ realization of our
shared aspirations,” he added.
Former President Ramos, for his part, recalled his experiences as a soldier who served with the PEFTOK: “As
a veteran of two wars, I guarantee all of you that nothing can cement the fraternity between two strangers, two
nations, better than being on the same side of a bloody war to defend freedom, justice and their shared
values.”
“…I get a certain kind of satisfaction upon seeing our diplomats, business people and creative young talents
like Carlo Marco, eager to pick up where Filipino and Korean allied soldiers left off,” he added.
Written and directed by the young and upcoming film director Carlo Marco Cruz and produced by Smoke and
Mirrors Entertainment, “The Forgotten War” depicts critical battle scenes and shares the stories of the soldiers
as they faced adversity, found courage, dedication, strength and love amidst the tragic backdrop of the Korean
War.
It is also a compelling account of how close ties developed between the Philippines and South Korea and
highlights the valuable role that the Philippines played in safeguarding democracy and freedom in the Korean
peninsula.
At the premiere showing, the film drew praises from the audience for its historical accuracy, the powerful
performances of its cast and its world-class artistic quality. The film will also be featured at the Cinemalaya
Film Festival to be held this July 17 to 26.
The launching of the film is part of a series of activities to commemorate the establishment of diplomatic
relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea , which began on 3 March 1949.
The friendship between the two countries was cemented by the deployment of the PEFTOK in September
1950 and service with the 16-nation coalition in defense of the Republic of Korea.
Since then, the Philippines and ROK have remained firm partners in bilateral, regional and multilateral
cooperation activities.
On 17 May 2008, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 1495 declaring 3 March 2009
as the Philippines-Republic of Korea Friendship Day and the year 2009 as RP-ROK Friendship Year with the
theme “Nurturing a Meaningful Friendship.”
The historically-themed film is the brainchild of the youthful director Carlo Cruz and is his first full length movie.
The 25 year-old director, who studied filmmaking in Australia, is the son of Philippine Ambassador to South
Korea Luis T. Cruz, and Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Minda Calaguian-Cruz. END
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Filipinos in Shanghai Celebrate 111th Philippine Independence Day
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09 June 2009 – Philippine Consul General to Shanghai Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez reported to Foreign
Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo that Filipinos in Shanghai came out in force last Sunday, 7 June, to
celebrate the 111th Philippine Independence Day at the garden of The Eton Hotel Shanghai. Organized by the
Shanghai Philippine Independence Day Committee (SPIDCom) which is composed of leaders of the
Philippine community, representatives of Philippine companies in Shanghai with the Philippine Consulate
General in Shanghai as Adviser, the event “Kasarinlan, Sariwain, Pagyamanin 2009” showcased the
Philippine fiesta, the bayanihan spirit, and the world-famous Filipino bands of Shanghai.
Community members showed their talents through the performances depicting various stages of Philippine
history. The Philippine Musicians Association of Shanghai (PMAS) also provided the entertainment during the
picnic.
Over 1,000 Filipinos based in Shanghai and in the neighboring provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu attended
the event. The picnic was made possible through the products and services and raffle prizes offered by
Philippine owned companies in Shanghai such as Eton Properties, Dai-ichi Electronics Shanghai Co. Ltd.,
Liwayway (China) Co. Ltd., Philippine Airlines, Metrobank Shanghai, Cebu Pacific, Robinsons Land, URC,
Bench, and Pag-Ibig Fund.
During the picnic, the Philippine Consulate General conducted its Serbisyo Para sa Republika mobile
consular mission and offered consular services such as passport renewals, notarials, community and
Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) registration, and assistance to nationals to the community. END
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Philippine Destinations and Culinary Products Shine In Canada’s World Culinary
Travel Expo
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10 June 2009 - In its bid to introduce and promote the Philippines as a competitive culinary and travel
destination, the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General
in Vancouver recently participated in the EAT! Vancouver World Culinary Travel Expo held on May 22-24, 2009
at the BC Place Stadium, in Vancouver, BC.
Many event-goers from Vancouver and other cities and towns in the province of British Columbia became
interested to visit the Philippines as they were amazed by the country’s enchanting and exotic 7,107 islands.
The Philippine booth was among the favorite spots as many guests opted to do photo shoots at the eye-
catching El Nido backdrop. Canadians gathered tour programs and promotional materials of Travel Cafe
Philippines, and became very interested on the specialty dishes and premium coffee being offered by this
travel cafe restaurant. The 7D mango-rind candies as give-away items were also very popular to both young
and mature Canadians.
EAT! Vancouver World Culinary Travel Expo is an annual food and culinary festival showcasing world tourism
through regional food, cuisine, cooking, chefs, hospitality and beverages. Representatives from various exotic
countries from all over the world distributed and provided samples of their culinary products during the Expo, a
unique experience for visitors looking for new culinary experiences. Visitors of the Expo likewise got an
opportunity to browse holiday destinations of various countries particularly their culinary offerings. Aside from
the Philippines, others countries represented in this year’s World Culinary Travel Expo were Japan, Barbados,
Turkey, Peru, Malaysia, China, Israel, Antigua, Indonesia, Florida, Louisiana, Spain, Korea, and Kenya.
The Philippine Culinary Booth Pavilion is a favorite among visitors of World Culinary Expo. A substantial
number that collected Philippine tourism materials were interested in learning more about traveling to the
Philippines and indicated their plan to visit it in their next travel. They were also attracted to the colorful
backdrop of the booth which featured a large photo display of the big lagoon at El Nido Resort in Palawan.
Visitors of the booth were treated to numerous give-away items such as colorful Experience Philippines
shopping bags, multi-colored luggage tags, mouse pads with photos of the country’s top tourist destinations,
and the very popular 7D mango-rind (mango-tamarind) candy which is made and exported from Cebu City.
A favorite item on the booth was Travel Café Philippines’ recipe booklet which contains ingredients and
procedures to cook some of the country’s most popular dishes like adobo and kare-kare. Hundreds of guests
also signed up in Philippine raffle items – a gift basket containing the Philippines’ popular delicacies and
pastries like polvoron, pili tart, and mamon made by Goldilock’s Bakeshop, and a box of the country’s exotic
coffee beans such as the Southern Tagalog’s Barako, Cordillera Mountain’s Benguet Brew, and Mt. Matutum’s
Arabica of Mindanao, courtesy of Travel Café Philippines. Vice Consul Melanie Rita Balisi Diano of Philippine
Consulate General in Vancouver and Director Rene R. De Los Santos of DOT San Francisco drew the lucky
winners of the raffle.
At the BC Chefs Association Culinary Salon competition, two Filipino-Canadians won in the food preparation
contest. Marriot Hotel’s Executive Chef Gary Ugalde won the grand gold medal, winning this highest award
twice in a row, and Ms. Kim Serrano, a chef student at the BC Culinary Academy bagged a gold medal in the
food preparation category. Both winners received a trophy and other prizes from the organizers and sponsors.
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RP Focuses Spotlight on Safety and Protection of Seafarers in International Efforts to
Fight Piracy
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10 June 2009 – The Philippines stressed the importance of ensuring the safety, welfare and protection of not
only Filipino seafarers but of all nationalities in ongoing efforts by the international community to fight piracy.
The Philippine delegation to the Seoul High-Level Meeting on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia today urged
other governments, international organizations and private entities involved in finding ways to combat piracy
particularly in the Gulf of Aden and Western Indian Ocean, to also focus on the condition of seafarers who are
victims of piracy and armed robbery.
“The Philippines recognizes the role of seafarers and hence international and regional initiatives should also
focus on their safety and protection,” Oscar Orcine, Executive Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs’
(DFA) Ocean Concerns Office, said. Mr. Orcine led a small Philippine delegation to the two-day meeting on 9-
10 June.
Also in the delegation is Executive Director for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Ma. Agnes Cervantes.
The Philippines’ participation to the Seoul High-Level Meeting forms part of the active policy of the DFA, under
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, to push for the interest of seafarers in discussions involving
piracy in all international forums.
Attended by delegates from 35 countries, 16 international organizations, and private entities in the maritime
industry, the Seoul High-Level Meeting is hosted by the Republic of Korea in coordination with Japan and the
International Maritime Organization.
The Philippines supplies 20 to 25 percent of the manpower requirements of the global maritime industry.
There are 44 Filipino seafarers on board four vessels hijacked by Somali pirates.
Earlier, Mr. Orcine also called on the international community to come up with more concrete actions to
combat piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Aden and the Western Indian Ocean.
For her part, Executive Director Cervantes also raised the need to provide post-hostage rehabilitation to
seafarers whose vessels were hijacked by pirates.
The Philippines’ proposals were recognized and supported by other delegates in the meeting.
Charles Darr, Attorney Adviser to the United States Coast Guard, disclosed that the Contact Group Off the
Coast of Somalia is now looking at the humanitarian component or the condition of seafarers who are victims
of piracy.
The Contact Group is an international cooperation mechanism established in response to United Nations
Resolution 1851.
The DFA has brought the issue of piracy to other regional and international fora. At the ASEAN Regional
Forum, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Enrique A. Manalo expressed the Philippine Government’s grave
concern over the increasing boldness of pirates in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia.
In a statement delivered during the 15th ARF Senior Officials’ Meeting on Non-Traditional Security Threats in
May, Undersecretary Manalo strongly condemned acts of piracy and called on other ARF participants to
address the problem comprehensively and in all its aspects, including through short-term and medium-term
measures.
In April, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Erlinda F. Basilio told the
Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families urged the
global community and relevant international bodies to intensify efforts to assist seamen from all nations
whose human rights have suffered as a result of piracy in lawless waters off Somalia. END
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