PH Celebrates Milestones with Brunei in Maritime-Themed National Day Reception
Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio and Guest of Honor Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohammad Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II. (Brunei PE photo)
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 14 June 2022 – Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio led the commemoration of the 124th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence with a diplomatic reception held at the Berkshire Hall of the Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club on 07 June 2022.
The Guest of Honor, Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohammad Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II, led a 300 strong guest list comprised of ranking Brunei government officials, the Diplomatic Corps and prominent members of the Bruneian private sector.
“Having arrived in Brunei Darussalam and presented my credentials to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah two weeks ago, it is my honor to host my first national day celebration this evening,” said Ambassador Tirol-Ignacio.
She spoke on the resounding victory of President-elect Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in the recent national elections and recalled that “full diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam were established on 01 January 1984 during the term of the President-elect’s father, then President Ferdinand E. Marcos”. She underlined the close, mature and fraternal relations between the Philippines and Brunei.
She said that in a letter personally presented by Secretary of Finance Carlos G. Dominguez III last week, outgoing Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte thanked His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah for the honor of His Majesty’s friendship and warm bilateral relations and in the context of ASEAN.
Ambassador Tirol-Ignacio also called attention to milestones in Philippines-Brunei defense and economic relations. She thanked Brunei Darussalam for actively participating in the International Monitoring Team (IMT) since 2004 and in the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB), and for the S-70i Black Hawk flight simulator training for pilots of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) that commenced last year.
She also thanked the Guest of Honor, the Second Minister of Finance and Economy, for his invaluable support in moving forward Philippines-Brunei Darussalam economic relations. She gave emphasis to the 2021 agreement on the avoidance of double taxation, the MOU on halal industry and halal export development and promotion, and a soon-to-be established private nursing school in Brunei, a joint venture between Far Eastern University in Manila, the Ministry of Health, and Jerudong Park Medical Centre.
The diplomatic reception celebrated the maritime identity of the Philippines. In her remarks, Ambassador Tirol-Ignacio stated that, as an archipelagic state, the Philippines is party to most international maritime agreements including the UNCLOS and strongly adheres to an international law-based regime in maritime governance.
“Pearl of the Orient”, an exhibition at Chensney Hall, featured rare and highly prized South Sea pearls and mother-of-pearl jewelry and accessories. “Their beauty is a reminder of what we stand to lose if we do not address climate change, marine plastic pollution, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and other environmental threats to our oceans and sea,” Ambassador Tirol-Ignacio said.
The theme also reflected the Philippines’ commitment to marine conservation with the country recognized to be a global center for marine biodiversity. Brochures, bookmarks and giveaway bags featured two of the world’s endangered species found in Philippine waters: the sea turtle (pawikan) and the whale shark (butanding) while promoting Filipino halal sea-related products, such as tinapa, coconut water and prawn chips, as well the beaches of the Philippines as desirable tourist destinations. A performance of Philippine dances inspired by water and sea, and life in the country’s coastal communities was a crowd favorite and added sparkle to the evening. END
Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio delivers her remarks during the Diplomatic Reception. (Brunei PE photo)
A mother-of-pearl pendant at the “Pearl of the Orient” exhibition in Chesney Hall of the Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club. (Brunei PE photo)
Performers of Sarjana Education Group showcase Philippine dances inspired by water and sea. (Brunei PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.bruneipe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassybrunei.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBrunei/, https://twitter.com/PHinBrunei or https://www.instagram.com/phinbrunei/.