Newly-Appointed Philippine Ambassadors Embark on an Economic Diplomacy Tour in Cebu and Dialogue with Local Officials and Businessmen

At the Town Hall Meeting with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia. From left: Ambassadors Joseph Angeles; Lilybeth Deapera; Grace Cruz-Fabella’ Medardo Macaraig; Gna Jamoralin; Lillibeth Pono; Alfonso Ver; and Pedro Laylo, Jr.

CEBU CITY, 19 December 2022 – Eight (8) Philippine Ambassadors newly-appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  joined the Economic Diplomacy Tour for Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, (AEPs) organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of the Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations (UMAIER) from 05 to 07 December 2022 in Cebu Province, including Cebu City, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City.  

The new AEPs paid courtesy calls on Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Mayor Michael Rama, Mayor Jonas Cortez and Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan of Cebu City, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City, respectively. The AEPs exchanged views with Cebu officials on how to promote Cebu as an attractive site for trade opportunities and foreign investments and to take advantage of its strategic location as a center for tourism and business.  The Cebu and Mandaue Chambers of Commerce in cooperation with the Governor’s Office organized a Town Hall meeting at the Provincial Capitol complete with exhibits of selected Cebu products, such as hinablon textiles, dried mangoes, biscuits, carrageenan products and wellness products from Cebu. A “Dialogue with Diplomats'' and a panel of resource speakers from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Tourism (DOT), the Cebu City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCCi), the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), and Austal Philippines, a foreign ship building company, was featured. 

The Ambassadors also visited companies, such as the International Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IPI), ProFood International Corporation, and enterprises like the Chocolate Chamber and the Holistic Coalition of the Willing (HoliCOW).  

The Ambassadors in the Cebu group with their respective countries of designation were Chiefs of Mission Grace Fabella (Argentina), Joseph Angeles (Brazil), Gina Jamoralin (Indonesia), Pedro Laylo, Jr (Israel), Lilybeth Deapera (Mexico), Lillibeth Pono (Qatar), Medardo Macaraig (Singapore), and Alfonso Ver (UAE).  Collectively, they face markets that possess a total consumer population of 697 million 225 thousand and 963 people based on the estimated populations, as of 2022.  

The Economic Diplomacy Program aims to gain insights on issues confronting businessmen to enhance the diplomats’ knowledge of Philippine trade and commerce through engaged networking and interaction with Filipino businesses, help tap overseas opportunities and developments in science and technology and educational linkages, and facilitate sister-city relationships and people-to-people exchanges. 

The Economic Diplomacy Program is an initiative of the DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations (OUMAIER) and implemented by the Office for International Economic Relations (OIER) in cooperation with the DFA Mindanao, the Consular Offices in Cebu and Davao. The tour was also covered by local news media outlets and social media. END

At the Office of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes receives the book “Storeys of Diplomacy”

Members of Mandaue City Chamber of Commerce and Industry look on as Mayor Jonas Cortes receives the book “Storeys of Diplomacy”

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan receives the book “Storeys of Diplomacy”

The Delegation of the Economic Diplomacy Program’s Tour in Cebu Arrives in Mactan, Cebu City.

Ambassador Jamoralin looks at a weaver’s demonstration at the Town Hall Meeting product exhibit of Hinablon de Cebu.

Profood International Corporation’s President and CEO Justin S. Uy receives the Certificate of Appreciation from Ambassador Gina A. Jamoralin.

International Pharmaceutical Incorporated (IPI) President and CEO Pio B. Castillo (5th from left) and his team with the Ambassadors.

A lighthearted moment as the key people at HoliCOW receives the Certificate of Appreciation from Ambassador Gina A. Jamoralin.

The Chocolate Queen, Raquel Toquero Choa, CEO of The Chocolate Chamber, receives the book “Storeys of Diplomacy”.