21 October 2015 - As part of its continuing efforts to strengthen the people-to-people linkages between the Philippines and Timor-Leste, the Philippine Embassy in Dili hosted an informal get-together last October 16 for the Timorese alumni who studied in Philippine universities and other institutes of higher learning.

Newly-arrived Philippine Ambassador to Timor-Leste Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia was delighted to formally introduce herself to the alumni.

“I am pleased to note that the Timorese alumni had described their stay in the Philippines as very enriching and productive,” she said.

Ambassador Austria-Garcia also encouraged the alumni “to channel back to Timor-Leste the positive outcome of their experiences in the Philippines to enhance and invigorate the political, economic and socio-cultural platforms of their country.”

Education is a major pillar of the bilateral partnership between the Philippines and Timor-Leste. The two countries signed in 2008 a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Academic Cooperation which has enabled the Philippines to help Timor-Leste in its human resource development efforts. Since 2009, the Timor-Leste Government has begun deploying scholars to pursue tertiary studies in the Philippines. END