27 April 2016 - Philippine Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg and Head of the Philippine Mission to the European Union Victoria  Bataclan  attended the event "Repas de Solidarite pour les Philippines" (Meals of Solidarity for the Philippines) which was organized by the Commune of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode for Binalonan, Pangasinan on April 23 at the Crowne Plaza in Brussels, Belgium.

Speaking before 200 Belgian and Filipino friends and benefactors of the commune including the Association of Pangasinense in Belgium, Ambassador Bataclan expressed her appreciation to the organizers led by Deputy Mayor for International Relations and Cooperation Mr. Eric Jassin Ramdani. She also thanked the attendees and rallied everyone to ascribe to solidarity for a better world.   She urged the Commune of Saint-Josse and the people of Pangasinan to keep the friendship going and to serve each other and the world.

The dinner-event 'with a mission' featured Asian food and Filipino entertainers John Florencio, pianist, and Dennis Astorga, tenor, both based in Paris.

Since 2014, the Commune of Saint-Josse and Binalonan have a sister-city agreement, and officials from both places exchange visits every year.  Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, with Deputy Mayor Jassin, supports such projects as Provision of Mobile Stores and the Creation of an Activity Centre/Central Municipal Library in Binalonan.  The two communities continue to explore possible areas of cooperation. END