15 October 2014 - The Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam held three significant events on October 10 at the Philippine Chancery in support of the Embassy’s cultural diplomacy program.
In his welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Nestor Z. Ochoa highlighted the three themes corresponding to the following events:
• Pride in our cultural achievements – opening of the Philippine Product Hall. The Philippine Product Hall was installed for the purpose of showcasing Philippine handicrafts which will serve as an avenue to attract more investors and tourists to visit the Philippines. The Product Hall highlights Philippine creativity and craftsmanship through Filipiniana wear, accessories, decorations, and other handicrafts, courtesy of Kultura Filipino.
• Respect for other cultures - Book Launching of a Guide to Syariah Penal Code 2013. The launching of the booklet Guide to Syariah Penal Code 2013 is an offshoot of the briefing on the Syariah Penal Code 2013 organized by the Philippine Embassy on February 27, in cooperation with the Prime Minister’s Office of Brunei Darussalam, following the implementation of the first phase of the Code in May 2014. The booklet intends to guide and provide clarity to some provisions of the Syariah Penal Code 2013 to the Filipino nationals in Brunei Darussalam.
• Culture that values all humanity – Lecture on Human Trafficking. The lecture was conducted by officials from the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) and other agencies composed of the Ad Hoc Committee on Trafficking in Persons. The briefing was focused on Brunei’s laws and regulations in combating human trafficking, how Brunei addresses human trafficking cases, and how the concerned Brunei Government authorities assist the victims.
The events were attended by 282 participants from the Filipino community, including professionals, skilled workers, members of religious organizations, laborers, and household service workers.
These initiatives of the Philippine Embassy aim to promote a thorough awareness and understanding of both the Filipino and Bruneian cultures, and the host government’s laws and regulations among the members of the Filipino community in Brunei Darussalam. END