Bagong Pilipinas and MANA Mo Legacy Event Held in Geneva

Ambassador Carlos Sorreta, Consul General Felipe Carino and Consul Iya Leycano join Filipino community members in an activity promoting Bagong Pilipinas launched by President Ferdinand Marcos this year and in commemorating Mana Mo in September.

GENEVA 07 October 2024 – The Philippine Mission and Consulate General held a Bagong Pilipinas town hall meeting with the Filipino community members residing in the cantons of Geneva and Vaud at the Mabini Hall of the Philippine Chancery in Geneva on 28 September 2024. The meeting also provided an occasion to commemorate the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANAMo) this September.

Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta addressed the crowd by conveying the Bagong Pilipinas initiative of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and stressed its importance to the country’s socio-economic development and social transformation in governance and economy that is inclusive, participative, and enabling. He emphasized the strong partnership that will be established between the Philippine government and the Filipino people, including Overseas Filipino Workers, under Bagong Pilipinas, with every Filipino having a vital role in shaping our country’s future.

Consul General Felipe F. Cariño III gave a presentation on Bagong Pilipinas by highlighting the different concepts of government adopted by President Marcos’ administration and his call for greater socio-civic responsibility towards the achievement of socio-economic programs of the government. Consul General Cariño emphasized that Bagong Pilipinas is a call for transformation directed to every Filipino, particularly marginalized sectors such as women, youth, LGBTQIA+, OFWs, fisherfolks and laborers, on how we present ourselves as Filipinos to each other and the world. He underscored that the current administration believes in being participative, enabling, a disabler of disablers and supporting public-private partnerships.  

Meanwhile, in commemoration of MANAMo, Consul Iya Leycano provided a briefing on PH maritime security with a focus on the action of the government related to the West Philippines Sea (WPS) based on the 2016 Arbitral Award and international law. She explained the significance of the Award in our region’s geopolitics and its importance in the protection and preservation of maritime resources, rich biodiversity, and national sovereignty.

During the question-and-answer activity, Ambassador Sorreta had the opportunity to explain further the government’s efforts to protect our ocean rights and the importance of the Arbitral Award. In response to the question on how can OFWs support the Philippines on the WPS issue, he stressed the need to form a national consensus on the issue and for the citizenry to stand behind the legal, bilateral, or rules-based tracks being undertaken by Philippine government authorities vis-à-vis the West Philippines Sea. He also believes in engaging with the different claimants in dialogue and negotiations through diplomatic, legal, and multilateral platforms that are available to it towards the adoption of a sustainable, equitable, and lasting resolution to the WPS issue.      

The Philippines has been supporting efforts for the promotion of and adherence to international law and the rules-based order among members in the United Nations. The Filipino community, including those attached to the UN and other international organizations, welcomed the presentation on government programs that invigorate and educate the citizenry to rally around social issues that will impact on national economic recovery and international maritime security. END

For more information, visit https://www.genevapm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHinGeneva/ or https://www.instagram.com/phingeneva/.