PHL Embassy in Mexico Unfazed, Continues to Operate Despite Damage Caused by Earthquake

The Philippine Embassy continues its operations in the official residence of Ambassador Eduardo Jose A. de Vega (far left).

04 October 2017 MEXICO – The officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Mexico remain unfazed despite the devastating 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Mexico City last September 19, causing the collapse of several buildings in the capital, and resulting in over 360 deaths throughout Mexico’s central region.

Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Eduardo A. de Vega reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that as a result of the earthquake, the building housing the Embassy sustained serious damage, requiring Embassy personnel to vacate the structure as a security measure.

However, in the words of Ambassador de Vega, “we Embassy staff may be bloody, but unbowed” and that “we remain unfazed and undeterred in fulfilling our duties and obligations to country and people.”  

Philippine Embassy personnel coordinated swiftly with Mexican authorities and with the Filipino community after the disaster struck, and were able to confirm that no Filipino nationals had been injured due to the quake or the ensuing aftershocks.

Despite the loss of the use of the Chancery, the Philippine Embassy in Mexico still continues to operate and provide services to the public, using the official residence of the Philippine Ambassador as its base of operations, while consular services are provided at the residence of the Embassy’s Consular Assistant, Mr. Ferdinand Camacho. 

The Philippine Commercial Counselor in Mexico, Mr. Vichael Angelo Roaring, has also offered to Philippine diplomats the use of his office for special purposes while the search for a permanent new location for the Philippine Embassy continues.

“Diplomatic colleagues in Mexico have expressed their support for us, and have suggested to me that due to the damage caused to our Embassy, we may need to suspend operations for the meantime; however, such a move would be uncharacteristic of the Philippine Foreign Service,” explained Ambassador de Vega. END

For more information, visit www.mexicope.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/MexicoPE.

Ambassador Eduardo Jose A. de Vega leads the Philippine Embassy staff in their first flag retreat ceremony right after the earthquake in Mexico City.

Consular Assistant Ferdinand Camacho receives passport renewal applicants in his own home.