16 November 2015 - As part of his cultural diplomacy program, Philippine Ambassador to Norway Bayani S. Mercado donated 20 books on the Philippines to the City of Bodø Public Library, in northern Norway last November 02.

Among the books he donated were cookbooks, English-Tagalog dictionaries, “pasaporte” a coffee table book on the history of the Philippine passport and “the highest priority”, a book about OFWs, and Justice Antonio Carpio’s lectures on the South China Sea.

The Filipino commmunity in Bodø, led by Melani Hansen and Rowena Ryvold, joined Ambassador Mercado in the book donation event, and also donated several books on Philippine cuisine. About 800 Filipinos live and work in Nordland.

Bodø is the administrative center of Nordland Kommune, one of Norway’s progressive regions. Fisheries, tourism and oil exploration are its major industries. It is also the airline hub in Northern Norway and the headquarters of the Norwegian air force. END