PHL Embassy Delivers Lecture at Ludovika Ambassadors’ Forum

12 October 2017 BUDAPEST – The Philippine Embassy in Budapest was given the honor of presenting a lecture as part of the “Ambassadors’ Forum at Ludovika” series. The lecture on the Philippines, entitled “The Philippines Today and Bilateral Relations with Hungary,” was delivered by Ambassador Maria Fe T. Pangilinan on September 19.

The event, organized by the National University of Public Service (NUPS) of Hungary, allows ambassadors accredited to Hungary to present developments in their countries. The program began with a speech from Dr. Janos Boka, Vice-Dean for Science and International Affairs of NUPS, who noted that the Philippines was an interesting study as a country, noting that it is both East and West, rich and poor, and modern and traditional, among its many characteristics.

The lecture proper was preceded by touristic and trade promotion films showcasing the rich culture, beautiful destinations, and the level of talent that the Philippines has were shown in order to build up interest on the Philippines even more.

Amb. Pangilinan describes the Philippines as a diverse society that is simultaneously enriched and hampered by the multicultural identities of its people.

The state of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Hungary were presented to the audience, being shown as growing and full of potential, driven by the Philippines’ interest in going beyond its traditional international partners and Hungary’s policy of opening to the East.

The current developments in the Philippines were discussed by Amb. Pangilinan. The country was showcased as the fastest-growing economy in Asia, with gross domestic product growth staying consistently near 7%.

After the lecture, a panel discussion was held, with Amb. Pangilinan being joined on stage by Dr. Boka, Mr. Ferenc Jari, Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Dr. Janos Jelen, Dean at the Dharma Gate Buddhist College.

The lecture also provided an opportunity for the students to ask questions about the Philippines. The evening’s programme was capped by a reception where guests were treated with a taste of Filipino food, such as empanada and cassava cake which were served during the occasion. END

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