PH EMBASSY BRIEFS STUDENTS ON DIPLOMACY, PH HISTORY, CULTURE AND FOREIGN POLICY 
Guests pose with the Philippine jeepney replica.

NAIROBI, 23 August 2023 – The Philippine Embassy in Kenya briefed a group of 17 secondary school students from Loreto Convent Valley Road and Nairobi Jaffery Academy on 22 August 2023.

At the briefing session, Second Secretary and Consul Maria Rosanna O. Josue gave an overview on various topics, including diplomacy, Philippine history, culture, and foreign policy. Consul Josue likewise presented a short background on the Philippines’ relations with Kenya, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and PH positions, programs and initiatives towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The briefing session was conducted in coordination with the Sub-Saharan International Model United Nations (SAIMUN), and was aimed at helping the students prepare for their participation in a Model United Nations Conference facilitated by the United Nations Information Center (UNIC) on 21-25 August 2023.

The Model United Nations Conference is an academic simulation of the United Nations where students play the role of diplomats from different countries and attempt to address pertinent and existing world issues with the policies and perspectives of their assigned country. END

Consul Maria Rosanna O. Josue describes the jeepney as a mode of public transportation in the Philippines. 

Students introduce themselves and share their aspirations.

A group photo of the students and their advisers with Philippine Embassy personnel 

Students enjoy a serving of Philippine delicacies, puto (rice cake) and chicken lumpia (spring rolls) 

PH AMBASSADOR VISITS SOUTH SUDAN, PROMOTES BILATERAL RELATIONS

Philippine Ambassador to South Sudan Marie Charlotte G. Tang with Acting Foreign Minister of South Sudan Deng Dau Deng Malek

NAIROBI, 18 August 2023 – Philippine non-resident Ambassador to South Sudan Marie Charlotte G. Tang met with various South Sudanese officials during a visit to Juba on 15-17 August 2023 to further discuss cooperation between the two countries.

In her meeting with South Sudan’s Acting Foreign Minister Deng Dau Deng Malek, the two officials exchanged views on how to better facilitate people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and South Sudan, including in the areas of education and sports. Ambassador Tang congratulated South Sudan’s basketball team for qualifying in the FIBA World Cup to be held in Manila on 25 August – 10 September 2023. She wished the South Sudanese team, the first from East Africa to qualify for the FIBA World Cup, a successful campaign and a memorable visit to Manila. 

Ambassador Tang also met with other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on how the Philippines and South Sudan can closely work together both bilaterally and in the multilateral fora.

The Ambassador also paid a courtesy call on South Sudan’s Second Vice President Dr. Wani Igga who graduated from the Bulacan State University in 2017 with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration degree. Vice President Igga recalled his fond experiences as a student in the Philippines and commended the country’s education system. He expressed the hope that more South Sudanese nationals will also be able to study in Philippine academic institutions.  

In her meeting with Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu, Minister of Youth and Sports, the latter conveyed that South Sudan looks up to the Philippines as a “model” on empowering the youth and developing competent human resources.

The Philippines and South Sudan mark the 10^th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year. The Philippines’ engagements with the world’s youngest country are covered by the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. END

Ambassador Tang with Second Vice President Dr. Wani Igga. Vice President Igga recounted that he took up his doctorate studies in the Philippines while serving as one of South Sudan’s vice presidents. 

From left to right: Amb. Dr. Riek Puok Riek, Director General for Multilateral Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC); Ambassador Tang; Ambassador Jacqueline Natepi Ben Lochalamoi, Director of the Humanitarian Affairs Department of the MFAIC; and Director James Hanafi Killa of the Asia Department of the MFAIC

In a brief press statement, Ambassador Tang expressed her optimism in the trajectory of Philippines-South Sudan diplomatic relations, which marks its 10^th anniversary this year. 

Ambassador Tang presents Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu premium mango chocolates from the Philippines.

PH AMBASSADOR WITNESSES MEDAL PINNING CEREMONY OF PHILIPPINE POLICE CONTINGENT TO THE UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN (UNMISS)

Philippine non-resident Ambassador to South Sudan Marie Charlotte G. Tang (back row, eighth from left) with the 20 police officers from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and one military expert from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who are currently part of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) (Photo from PCol. Cheryl Yatar)

NAIROBI, 18 August 2023 – Philippine Ambassador to South Sudan (with residence in Nairobi, Kenya) Marie Charlotte G. Tang witnessed the medal pinning ceremony of the 20 officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who are part of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), held on 16 August 2023 at the UN House, Juba, South Sudan.

The ceremony is traditionally held to recognize the services rendered by the peacekeepers as they near the completion of their tour of duty in the mission area. The current PNP contingent arrived in South Sudan in batches between October and December 2022.

In her remarks, Ambassador Tang commended the Filipino peacekeepers for heeding the call of service and contributing to the transformation process of South Sudan, the world's youngest country.

Ambassador Tang emphasized how the Philippines' participation in the UNMISS builds on the country's six decades of active participation in UN peacekeeping operations. She reaffirmed the Philippines' continuing commitment to UN peacekeeping as the country's contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security.

Ambassador Tang also encouraged the Filipino peacekeepers to continue being agents and advocates of peace as they return to their respective communities in the Philippines.

UN Police (UNPOL) Commissioner for UNMISS Christine Fossen commended the Filipino peacekeepers for their professionalism, dedication, and passion for peace. She also cited the Philippines’ “sterling reputation” in peacekeeping and thanked the Philippine Government for sending highly competent peacekeepers whose work are vital to the mandate of UNMISS, setting a benchmark for future missions.

The Filipino police peacekeepers are deployed to the main UNMISS headquarters in Juba and in field offices across South Sudan. Among the positions and tasks that they handle are on personnel administration, logistics, technical advisory, planning and budgeting, public information, field office command, and capacity-building for the local police force.

The PNP officers, majority of whom are females, have also been supporting their South Sudanese counterparts on basic Gender and Development (GAD) concepts and on handling violence against women and children (VAWC) cases. This is in line with the Philippines' strong international advocacy on gender equality and women empowerment (GEWE) and promoting greater participation of women in peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

The PNP officers, most of whom are also first-timers in a UN mission, expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the people of South Sudan.

UNMISS was created in July 2011 through the UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1996. It is mandated to support the consolidation of peace and security, and establish the conditions for development, following South Sudan’s independence. END

Ambassador Tang, in her remarks, cited the Philippines’ long tradition of participation in UN peacekeeping operations and conveyed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s intent to revitalize Philippine engagements in UN peacekeeping missions.

The Filipino police peacekeepers with guests of honor and officials of UN Police (UNPOL) in UNMISS. Seated from left to right: Chief of Operations of UNPOL Felly Bahizi Rutagerura (Rwanda); Ambassador Tang; UNPOL Commissioner in UNMISS Christine Fossen (Norway); Chief of Staff/Officer-in-Charge Deputy Police Commissioner Murat Isil (Turkey); and Chief of Capacity Building of UNPOL Victoria Matjila (Namibia).

PCol. Cheryl Yatar (center), Philippine Contingent Commander, is awarded a medal and certificate by UNPOL Commissioner for UNMISS Fossen (left) and Ambassador Tang (right).

The medal pinning ceremony was attended by UNMISS officials, representatives of different police contingents in UNMISS, and members of the Filipino community in South Sudan.

 Prior to the medal pinning ceremony, Ambassador Tang received a briefing from UNPOL Commissioner Fossen on the work of the Mission and the Filipino police contingent.