Resident Foreign Ambassadors Explore Zamboanga City During the Familiarization Tour Organized by DFA and Zamboanga City
Heads of Missions and spouses representing 22 Embassies call on Mayor John Dalipe at the City Hall of Zamboanga
ZAMBOANGA 08 October 2024 – The Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Public Diplomacy (DFA-OPD), in partnership with the City Government of Zamboanga, organized a familiarization tour for resident foreign Ambassadors on 04-06 October 2024. Thirty-five diplomats from the Embassies of Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam participated.
The familiarization tour was held during the celebration of Zamboanga City’s Hermosa Festival, known locally as Fiesta Pilar, one of the City’s most important festivals as it honors its patron saint, the Nuestra Señora de la Virgen del Pilar. The familiarization tour provided the diplomats an opportunity to explore and learn more about the beautiful city of Zamboanga. The participants personally experienced the City’s culture through food and art, visited various tourism sites, and learned more about the business opportunities in the city, as well as met its local officials and other stakeholders.
The familiarization tour kicked off on 04 October 2024 with a courtesy call by the diplomats on Zamboanga City Mayor John M. Dalipe at the historic City Hall of Zamboanga. Mayor Dalipe warmly welcomed the diplomats and thanked them for visiting Zamboanga City. The courtesy call included a briefing on the city and its security situation, where the improved overall peace and order situation was highlighted.
After the call, the diplomats visited the Yakan Weaving Village where they witnessed the making of hand-loomed Yakan fabrics. The diplomats likewise visited the Caneral Barter Trade Center, El Museo de Zamboanga, while some participated in a golf tournament held at the Zamboanga Golf Course and Beach Park.
Later in the day, the diplomats were brought to Fort Pilar where they toured the National Museum and attended a cultural dinner hosted by Mayor Dalipe. The dinner gave the diplomats an opportunity to network with local officials and enjoy cultural performances. DFA-OPD Assistant Secretary Arvin de Leon delivered a message where he thanked Mayor Dalipe for hosting the familiarization tour. Asec. de Leon underscored the significance of the visit to Zamboanga City, noting that the City is part of the newly established Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index, which “assesses the top 1,000 cities worldwide based on 27 indicators across five categories.” Asec de Leon expressed hope that the visit of the diplomats will result in more exchanges between the city and their respective countries.
On 05 October 2024, the participants visited the beautiful island of Sta. Cruz, off the coast of Zamboanga City, where the diplomats took time to enjoy the pinkish sand beach and the clear waters, and toured the mangroves.
An important activity of the familiarization tour was the business forum, where the City Government presented the planned city extension; housing, seaport, tourism, and road projects, which offered opportunities for collaboration. Presented as well were the City’s priority investments in the sectors of agriculture, transportation, engineering and infrastructure, information and communications technology, renewable energy and green projects, Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Trade and Investment Enterprise, halal industry, and malls and retail trade. The City Government representatives underscored the strategic advantage of the city in terms of investment and trade in light of its proximity to major cities, as well as to some of the Southeast Asian countries, whose top diplomats were present. Ease of doing business in the city is also at the heart of the City Government’s efforts to attract more entrepreneurs through its improved processes in business and product registration.
Representatives from the Southern Philippines Deep Sea Fishing Association, Inc. and the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority likewise presented on the fishing industry in Zamboanga and future projects, as Zamboanga City is also known as the sardines capital of the Philippines. The forum concluded with a Q&A session during which the foreign diplomats inquired on sustainability practices in the agriculture sector, the establishment of a Halal center, sources of energy, and waste management.
The familiarization tour concluded with the visit of diplomats to the R.T. Lim Boulevard on 06 October 2024, where they watched the Regatta de Zamboanga, a race of boats with the colorful vintas unique to Zamboanga, and participated in the Wow Sardinas boodle fight. The diplomats were joined by Representative Manuel Jose Dalipe, Mayor Dalipe, and other city officials.
During the visit to Zamboanga City, the foreign diplomats were accompanied by DFA-OPD personnel led by Assistant Secretary Arvin de Leon and other DFA officials, including DFA Spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza, Asec Aileen Mendiola-Rau (Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs), Asec Maria Elena Algabre (Office of European Affairs), Asec Mardomel Celo Melicor (Office of Middle East and African Affairs), Asec Ariel Penaranda (Office of Protocol), Asec Adrian Bernie Candolada (Department Legislative Liaison Unit), and Asec Patrick John Hilado (Office of Asset Management and Support Services).
After the familiarization tour, the participating diplomats expressed appreciation to the city government of Zamboanga for its hospitality. This familiarization tour is a follow-up activity to the equally successful visits organized by OPD for Manila-based Heads of Diplomatic Missions to the Province of Negros Occidental in March 2024, and Dagupan City, Pangasinan in April 2023 in time for the city’s Bangus Festival. END
Diplomats shop at Canelar barter trade
The diplomats were welcomed at the Yakan Weaving Village with traditional music and dance
A Yakan weaver shows how hand-loomed Yakan fabric is made.
The diplomats tour the National Museum at Fort Pilar
H.E. Michel Parys, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium and the most senior member of the Diplomatic Corp present, delivers a message on behalf of his colleagues at the cultural dinner hosted by the City Government of Zamboanga
Assistant Secretary de Leon reads a certificate of appreciation signed by Secretary Enrique A. Manalo for Mayor Dalipe
Assistant Secretary de Leon and Mayor Dalipe exchange tokens.
The diplomats were welcomed with a traditional dance, Pangalay, at Sta. Cruz Island
The diplomats toured the island’s lagoon and received a briefing on the importance of the mangroves to the small community that lives on the island.
One of the highlights of the familiarization tour is the business forum where trade and investment opportunities were discussed.
The diplomats and DFA officials attended a fellowship night hosted by the City Government of Zamboanga at the Palacio del Sur.
The diplomats with Representative Manuel Jose Dalipe (20th from right) and Mayor Dalipe (17th from left) at the Regatta de Zamboanga.
Participating diplomats at the Wow Sardinas boodle fight enjoy sardines prepared in different ways.