05 November 2014 - In an effort to pursue closer cooperation with local governments and foster people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and Belgium, the Philippine Embassy in Brussels co-organized a visit to the city of Spa on October 29. Deputy Chief of Mission and Philippine Consul General Robespierre Bolivar and his wife Maria Aurora Bolivar represented the Philippine Embassy.
During the visit, the Embassy representatives called on Spa City Mayor Joseph Houssa and other local officials at the city hall, where the Philippine flag was hoisted throughout the day. The Embassy team and the city officials discussed possibilities for sister-city arrangements and enhanced people-to-people exchanges. City officials also expressed eagerness to visit the Philippines.
The Embassy officials, together with the Mayor of Spa, graced the opening of an exhibit on best practices in sustainable agriculture in the Province of Negros, which was mounted at the Pouhon Pierre le Grande Museum in the city center. They also participated in a roundtable discussion on water management organized by the Centre Regional d’Initiation a’Environnement (CRIE) with representatives of visiting Philippine non-governmental organizations, Belgian experts, and local officials.
The team also visited the Musée de la forêt et des eaux (Museum of Forest and Water) and the headquarters of the mineral water company Spa Monopole.
Popularly known as the Pearl of the Ardennes region of Belgium, the City of Spa is famous for its healing cold springs, which have been frequented by European royals since the 14th century. The term spa, referring to any location where mineral-rich spring water is used for medicinal and wellness purposes, was named after this Belgian city. END