26 August 2014 - Representatives of the diplomatic corps, government, the business sector, think tanks and the academic community in Singapore turned out in force to grace a reception hosted by Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Antonio A. Morales on August 20 at the iconic Conrad Hotel in Singapore.
Also designed to be an introductory event, this was the first major reception organized by the Philippine Embassy for an audience other than the Filipino community in Singapore since Ambassador Morales presented his credentials to President Tony Tan Keng Yam on May 29.
The reception was held at a very opportune time after Ambassador Morales has completed his introductory calls on most of the Ministers of the Singapore government and his colleagues in the diplomatic community as well as his meetings with top business officials in Singapore.
Ambassador Morales expressed his appreciation to all the guests for sparing their precious time to grace the event. He recognized the efforts of his predecessors in promoting bilateral relations between the Philippines and Singapore even as he committed to continue their legacy and to implement his own initiatives to help bring relations between the two countries to even new heights.
The Ambassador cited the efficiency of the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs in facilitating the early presentation of his credentials and for helping arrange his meetings with members of the Singapore government.
Ambassador Morales cited the long-standing relations between Philippines and Singapore that could be traced back to the times when both did not yet exist as independent nations. He said Filipinos, mostly in search of economic opportunities in the city-state, have been coming to Singapore for a long time adding that a notable part of the history of the two countries are the trips of our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal to Singapore in the 19th century that are now celebrated with a marker near the Singapore River.
He noted that Singapore is presently one of our top trading partners, a major source of foreign investments and continues to serve as the second home for thousands of Filipinos.
Ambassador Morales took the opportunity to share his intentions during his tenure as the top representative of the Philippine government in Singapore. At the bilateral level, he said that focus will be to maintain strong relations between the two governments and on the promotion of economic relations. He added that part of his mission is to support efforts towards ASEAN integration.
He also expressed his desire to help strengthen collaboration on issues of international significance including human rights, labor, environmental protection, human trafficking, peace and stability and the fight against poverty.
Ambassador Morales thanked the representatives of the business community for their continued confidence in the Philippines and encouraged them to invest more in the country citing the sound business environment and political stability that make it a prime investment destination.
A presentation by Kultura Performance Arts Pte. Ltd. of the dance “Jota Hispaniola” spiced up the reception. A sumptuous cocktail featuring Conrad Hotel’s select recipe served with Italian wines and the now ubiquitous San Miguel Pale Pilsen soon followed. END