19 December 2013 - Monocle, an upscale London-based international affairs, business, culture and design magazine with a presence in more than 100 markets throughout the world, has chosen to feature Philippine Ambassador to China Erlinda F. Basilio for a profile story in one of its upcoming issues.

The magazine’s Shanghai correspondent Justin Bergman flew to Beijing for an interview and photo session with  Ambassador Basilio at  the chancery and the official residence. 

Asked about Philippine-China relations, Ambassador Basilio said that geographical proximity to each other ensured centuries of deep and extensive contacts and exchanges between the two countries. The Ambassador described the bond between the Philippines and China as one that was founded on deep cultural roots and nurtured throughout their histories. In fact, Ambassador Basilio said, Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) first unleashed its fury  in central Philippines before battering southern China, which she said perhaps gives meaning to the expression “our common destiny.”

Ambassador Basilio talked about how she has always advocated people-to-people contacts as one of the most important pillars of relations between two nations, reflecting that the fundamentals of state relations depend on direct engagement and interaction between and among their publics. She went on to express that the Philippines remains committed to healthy relations and exchanges between the grassroots of the two countries, whether through business and industry, friendship associations, local governments, the youth and others.

Monocle’s feature on Ambassador Basilio is slated to appear in Monocle’s February 2014 edition.

Monocle runs a monthly profile of diplomats in its Affairs section, which features light-hearted pieces on the life and daily whirl of activities of ambassadors around the world. END