19 June 2015 - In commemoration of the 117th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, the Philippine Embassy in Dili hosted a modest yet dignified reception for Timor-Leste government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and international organizations, as well as members of the Filipino community, last June 11 at the Embassy grounds.
The Embassy used the occasion not only to pay tribute to the heroes of the 1898 Philippine Revolution, but also to reflect on the notable achievements of the Philippines for the past year. The reception was also a celebration of the strong bonds of friendship between the Philippines and Timor-Leste.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Dr. Hernani F. Coêlho da Silva was the guest of honor.
In her remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Timor-Leste María Aileen H. Bugarín cited the Philippines’ impressive economic growth and its emerging role as a lead advocate in the region on the primacy of the rule of law.
Ambassador Bugarín also noted the enduring ties of friendship between the Filipino and Timorese people as the catalyst for the further advancement of the two countries’ development partnership. She then acknowledged the presence of Timorese guests – government officials or graduates of Philippine institutes of higher learning – who have an affinity with the Philippines.
The Ambassador further said, “I would like to believe that our Timorese friends and colleagues have channeled back to Timor-Leste the positive outcome of their experiences in the Philippines to enhance and invigorate the political, economic and socio-cultural platforms of their country.”
“Those Timorese who stayed in the Philippines had also assumed the role of cultural diplomats, and the Filipinos they interacted with also learned from them the unique history and culture of Timor-Leste,” added the Ambassador.
Ambassador Bugarín ended her remarks on a positive note by expressing her optimism towards the future of the relations between the Philippines and Timor-Leste.
“Strong people-to-people ties will continue to rev up the engine of our relations as our countries increase our formal engagement through high-level visits and exchanges, expand our development cooperation in vast and diverse fields, and work together for an inclusive and progressive Southeast Asian region,” the Ambassador said.
In his response, Foreign Minister Coêlho shared Ambassador Bugarín’s optimism that bilateral cooperation will continue to broaden and deepen in the years to come.
The Minister also underscored the fact that the Philippines and the Filipino people have supported Timor-Leste during critical junctures of its history. For instance, Philippine advocacy groups and other like-minded groups, in particular the Asia-Pacific Coalition for East Timor (APCET), helped internationalize the Timorese people’s struggle for self-determination. The Philippines was also one of the first countries to respond to Timor-Leste’s (then East Timor) humanitarian crisis in 1999 by deploying peacekeeping troop operations. As Timor-Leste is relentlessly increasing its engagement with its Southeast Asian neighbors, the Philippines has likewise extended its full support for the country’s aspiration to become a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Minister Coêlho also noted the positive developments in the formal government-to-government ties between the two countries through the years. Among these developments were the official visits to the Philippines of then President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, the conduct of the two countries’ inaugural policy consultations in 2014, and the signing of bilateral agreements covering areas such as education, diplomatic training, teacher training, and infrastructure development.
Aside from Minister Coêlho, other senior-ranking government officials also graced the event such as Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, Vice Minister for Finance Helder Lopes, Chief of Defense Forces Major General Lere Anan Timur, Deputy Police Commander General Faustino da Costa, and incumbent Ambassador to the Philippines Juvencio de Jesus Martins.
Filipino cuisine also took center stage at the reception. The Embassy engaged the services of Diya Restaurant, the premier restaurant in Dili, to prepare a Filipino-inspired menu. The guests at the reception sampled and appreciated with gusto the exquisite flavors of Filipino cuisine. Among the desserts served, hot chocolate prepared from the world-class Filipino tablea chocolates from Cebu-based Ralfe Gourmet provided a warm sweet conclusion to the variety of Filipino dishes served at the reception.
The reception was also in line with the cultural and economic diplomacy efforts of the Embassy. Guests were treated to the unique brand of Filipino hospitality, and were given tourism brochures and some Philippine food products, notably the ubiquitous San Miguel Beer. END