Issue No. 1 – December 2015 Ambassador Jose D.R. Burgos Presents His Credentials to the Federative Republic of Brazil Philippine Ambassador to Brazil PHL tribes participate in Inaugural Jose D.R. Burgos presented his World Indigenous Games in Brazil Credentials as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippines to the Federative Republic of Brazil to President Dilma Vana Rousseff on 04 November 2015 at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasilia, Brazil. Assisting the President during the Presentation of Credentials Ceremony were Ambassador Mauro Vieira, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Honorable Marco Aurelio, Presidential Adviser on Foreign deepest gratitude and appreciation In her brief remarks, President Affairs and Agriculture. to the President for her warm Rousseff mentioned that she was accommodation in the acceptance of very pleased that Brazil was of great The Ambassador’s retinue was his credentials. He took the assistance to the crafting and composed of Dr. Blesilda Mansilla opportunity to convey to the implementation of the Philippines’ Burgos, Ambassador Burgos’ President the best wishes and 4Ps ( Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino spouse, as well as First Secretary warmest greetings from Philippine Program) which was patterned after and Consul General Ariz Severino President Benigno S. Aquino III. Brazil’s Bolsa Família , touted as V. Convalecer. the world’s most successful social Ambassador Burgos also expressed amelioration program. In presenting his credentials, deep gratitude and appreciation to Ambassador Burgos expressed his the Brazilian Government for its The ceremony was followed by a generous support lunch reception hosted by Foreign and active Minister Vieira in honor of the 22 cooperation in Ambassadors who presented their many fields, such credentials to the President. as the Zero Hunger Program, Bolsa Família , and other poverty alleviation and social security programs in which the Philippines view Brazil as an exemplary model. PHL tribes join the 1st “Indigenous Olympics” in Brazil (p. 12) Editorial Board History of PH -Brazil Relations Ambassador Jose D.R. Burgos Official diplomatic Consul General Ariz S. V. Convalecer relations between the Advisers Philippines and Brazil were Vice Consul Eric P. Valenzuela deemed to have been Editor-in-Chief established upon the recognition of Philippine Ms. Helen D. Tan Independence in July 1946. Managing Editor During the inaugural ceremony on 04 July 1946, Mr. Lowalde M. Comille the Brazilian Government Ms. Ethel Jane M. Palispis sent Hon. Carlos Silverio Martins Ramos as Special Representative of Contributors President Eurico Gaspar Dutra. This marked the official recognition by Mr. Guillermo C. Reyes Brazil of the Philippines as a sovereign state. Mr. Jose Antonio M. Bea Photography The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. initially exercised jurisdiction over Brazil, which was later transferred to the Philippine Mr. Joey A. Espolong Embassy in Argentina upon the opening of the Philippine representation Ms. Rosamari F. Candido in Buenos Aires. Lay-out, Printing and Circulations On 16 September 1965, Ambassador Carlos S. Tan opened the first Ms. Leila O. Carreiro Philippine Embassy in Rio de Janeiro, the former capital of Brazil and Mr. Fabio Henrique M. Prado where most embassies were located during that time. To encourage Assistants embassies to relocate from Rio de Janeiro to the new administrative capital of Brasilia, the Brazilian Government offered to donate land for DID YOU KNOW? free to the diplomatic missions. On 01 September 1973, the mission transferred to Brasilia on a piece of The Philippines and Brazil were property located at the corner of the Northern Embassies Sector ( Setor under the same ruler for 60 years de Embaixadas Norte ) with a land area of 2.5 hectares. King Philip II, after whom the The Heads of Post of the Embassy since it opened in 1965 up to the present Philippines was named, was the son of are as follows: Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire and Isabella of Portugal. In 1556, Ambassador Carlos S. Tan 1965* Philip II became King of Spain when Charles V relinquished Spain and its Ambassador Octavio L. Maloles 1970* territories to him. CDA, a.i. Consuelo A. Arranz 1973* Following the death of King Henry of Ambassador Emilio D. Bejasa 1978* Portugal in 1580 and as one of the closest Ambassador Sergio A. Barrera 05 Aug 1980 – Aug 1986 dynastic claimants to the throne, King Ambassador Lauro L. Baja, Jr. 05 Sep 1986 – 27 Aug 1993 Philip II claimed Portugal by force. Ambassador Jose Macário Laurel IV 09 Sep 1993 – 17 Mar 1996 From 1580 to 1640, King Philip II and Ambassador Francisco L. Benedicto 31 Jul 1996 – 25 Nov 1998 the two Spanish kings, both named Philip, who succeeded him ruled Spain (and the Ambassador Oscar G. Valenzuela 20 Mar 1999 – 21 Mar 2005 Philippines) and the Portuguese Empire Ambassador Teresita V.G. Barsana 08 Oct 2005 – 22 Dec 2009 (including Brazil) one after the other during Ambassador Eva G. Betita 13 Apr 2010 – 04 Oct 2014 the period known as the Philippine Dynasty, the name of the Royal House of Ambassador Jose D.R. Burgos 20 Mar 2015 - Present Habsburg during the dynastic union of Portugal and Spain. *Embassy records have no available data on the exact tenure or term of office for these Heads of Post. Sources: Encyclopedia.com and WorldHeritage.org 2 ana and Suriname Consular Missions and Mobile Voter Registrations Georgetown, Guyana Paramaribo, Suriname Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Vice Consul Valenzuela also met A consular team, this time with Inspector Judith Babel of composed of Philippine the Immigration Department of Ambassador Jose D. R. Burgos, Suriname to discuss immigration- Dra. Blesilda M. Burgos, Consul related concerns of the Filipino General Ariz Severino V. workers. Convalecer, Mr. Joey A. Espolong, Mr. Jose Antonio M. Bea and Ms. Leila Oliveira Carreiro, rendered With some of the OFWs in Guyana consular services and conducted overseas voter (OV) registration Third Secretary and Vice Consul from 25 to 26 September for the Eric Valenzuela and Consular / Filipino Community in Rio de ATN Assistant and VRM Operator Janeiro. Joey Espolong visited Guyana and Suriname for consular missions and overseas voter registration on 9-13 October 2015. Vice Consul Valenzuela meets with Inspector Judith Babel (2nd from right). Suriname is home to about 800 OFWs working in hospitals, hotels, fishing companies and commercial establishments, among others. The consular outreach was held at Vice Consul Valenzuela (4 th from left) meets the Salão Cozumel of the with the Filipino workers and officials of Acapulco Copacabana Hotel, Texila American University. located just off the iconic A total of 77 passport applicants Acapulco beach. and 124 Overseas Voters from Guyana and Suriname availed of A total of 20 passports were the services provided by the renewed, and 19 new overseas mobile team during the weekend voters registered. In addition, 2 mission. The Embassy Team also affidavits of lost passports were accepted applications for civil executed, one report of marriage Consular team poses with the applicants. registration, notarization and and one report of birth were citizenship reacquisition. received by the consular team. Vice Consul Valenzuela meets with some of the OFWs in Suriname. With the applicants and registrants in Rio de Janeiro 3 Consular Missions and Mobile Voter Registrations While in São Paulo, Ambassador São Paulo, Brazil Burgos, together with Vice Consul Valenzuela and Ms. Candido, visited the Filipina detainees at the Penitenciária Feminina da Capital and met with the Penitentiary Director Ivete Barão A. Halásc. Ambassador Burgos met with the Filipinos in Florianopolis who are A Consular Outreach Team from mostly from Members Church of the Philippine Embassy in Brasilia God International (MCGI), an also visited São Paulo, Brazil for a international religious group consular mission and overseas originating in the Philippines. voter registration on 24-26 October MCGI has a growing presence in 2015 in Hotel Ville. At the Women’s Penitentiary Latin America due to its missionaries throughout the continent and an internet program being aired in Portuguese and Florianópolis, Brazil Spanish. Like São Paulo, it was the second time in two years that the Philippine Embassy in Brasilia, led Ambassador Jose D.R. Burgos addresses the by Ambassador Jose D.R. Burgos, Filipinos in São Paulo. visited Florianopolis on 24-26 July The team was composed of 2015 to conduct a consular mission Ambassador Jose D.R. Burgos, and mobile overseas voter Vice Consul Eric P. Valenzuela, registration in the capital of the MCGI, with about 70 chapters in Consular/ATN Assistant and VRM State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Brazil and thousands of Filipino Operator Joey A. Espolong and and Brazilian members, has also There were 25 passport applicants Ms. Rosamari F. Candido, started some business ventures in and 19 overseas voter registrants Assistant and Interpreter. Florianopolis such as the opening during the said weekend mission. early this year of two (2) The Embassy team also accepted It was the second time in two years restaurants including “Salut” that applications for civil registration. that the Philippine Embassy serves Filipino dishes. conducted a consular mission in São Paulo. A total of 37 passport applicants and 64 Overseas Voters, including 55 new registrants, availed of the services provided by the mobile team during the weekend mission. The Embassy Team also received applications for notarization, citizenship reacquisition and civil registration. The Filipino Community in Florianopolis 4 Ambassador Burgos Presents His Credentials as Non -Resident Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname Ambassador Jose D.R. Burgos best wishes from H. presented on 23 November 2015 his E. President Benigno credentials to H.E. Desiré Delano S. Aquino III. Bouterse, President of the Republic of Suriname as Non-Resident The Ambassador, who Philippine Ambassador to Suriname. was given military Assisting the President during the honors during the Presentation of Credentials were ceremony, was H.E Ambassador Niermala accompanied by his Badrising, Minister of Foreign spouse Dra.