PH, RWANDA SIGN MOU TO BOLSTER BILATERAL COOPERATION

PH Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta sign the MOU on behalf of their respective governments. (Photo by MINAFFET-Rwanda)

NAIROBI, 08 December 2023 – Philippine Ambassador to Rwanda Marie Charlotte G. Tang (with residence in Nairobi) and Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Vincent Biruta signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Establishment of General Bilateral Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda on 05 December 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda. 

During a tête-à-tête prior to the signing ceremony, Ambassador Tang hailed the agreement as a milestone in Philippines-Rwanda relations, as it will provide direction and structure for cooperation between the two countries. 

Foreign Minister Biruta noted the longstanding and cordial ties between Rwanda and the Philippines, and expressed the hope that the MOU would open doors for the two countries to have a more vibrant engagement across different sectors.

Under the MOU, the Philippines and Rwanda will collaborate in the fields of human resources development, scientific and technological exchanges, education, health, agriculture, gender, youth, environmental issues, and security. 

During her visit to Kigali, Ambassador Tang also took the opportunity to meet with Rwandan officials from the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, the Rwanda National Police, and the Rwanda Development Board, initiating discussions on specific collaborations in support of the newly-signed MOU. 

Rwanda, a small landlocked country in central Africa, has emerged from the ashes of the 1994 Rwandan genocide to become one of Africa’s most dynamic and fastest-growing economies. Rwanda, known as the “land of a thousand hills”, is also recognized for its conservation success of the critically endangered mountain gorilla. END.

Ambassador Tang and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta pose for a photo after the signing ceremony (Photo by MINAFFET-Rwanda)

Ambassador Tang and Minister of Gender and Family Promotion Dr. Valentine Uwamariya discuss potential areas of collaboration in advancing SDG5 and other global objectives on gender. (Photo from the MIGEPROF-Rwanda)

Ambassador Tang (fourth from left) met with Inspector General of the Rwanda National Police of Rwanda National Police (RNP) Felix Namuhoranye (fifth from left) to exchange views and best practices on participation in UN peacekeeping missions. (Photo by RNP)

Ambassador Tang also met with Ms. Nelly Mukazayire, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), to identify areas of cooperation between the Philippines and Rwanda, particularly in business and tourism.

FILIPINO FLAVORS FEATURED AT THE ASEAN FOOD FESTIVAL IN KENYA

Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang (wearing yellow) accompanies Dr. Dorothy Rotich of the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and other ASEAN Ambassadors at the Philippine booth at the ASEAN Food Festival

NAIROBI, 29 November 2023 – The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, together with the Embassies/High Commission of the three other ASEAN member states with Missions in Nairobi namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, organized the ASEAN Food Festival on 26 November 2023 at the Two Rivers Mall in Nairobi.

The ASEAN Food Festival put a spotlight on the rich culinary traditions and authentic flavors of Southeast Asia, while also showcasing the collaborative efforts of ASEAN embassies, Southeast Asian companies, and the ASEAN diaspora in promoting people-to-people exchanges between ASEAN and Kenya.

In her remarks, Philippine Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, current Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Nairobi (ACN), emphasized the unifying aspects of food within the diverse cultures of Southeast Asia. She noted that food plays a vital role in celebrations, ceremonies, and the social fabric of Southeast Asians.

The Philippine booths offered an array of Filipino cuisine and delicacies prepared by the Filipino community in Kenya. The booths featured popular dishes such as chicken adobo, pancit, and lumpia, along with traditional all-day breakfasts tapsilog (tapa, sinangag at itlog) and longsilog (longganisa, sinangag at itlog). Visitors also enjoyed ginataang mais and a variety of street food favorites including kwek kwek (deep fried, orange-battered eggs), fish balls, and squid balls, complemented by the refreshing sago’t gulaman. An assortment of Filipino desserts like leche flan, puto, sapin-sapin, and biko was also available.

Meanwhile, other ASEAN embassies also showcased their traditional dishes, including bakso and nasi goreng from Indonesia, nasi lemak and roti canai from Malaysia, and green curry chicken and mango sticky rice from Thailand.

The ASEAN Food Festival served as a vibrant platform for cultural exchange and increased public awareness of ASEAN's rich culinary heritage in Kenya. It also highlighted some shared culinary traditions and influences between ASEAN and Kenya.

To emphasize the importance of people-to-people exchanges, Qatar Airways raffled off a roundtrip ticket to any destination in Southeast Asia. The ACN will also donate a portion of the proceeds from the Festival to a partner charity organization in Kenya. END

From left: Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Wisit Bunyaritthipong of Thailand, Ambassador Mohamad Hery Saripudin of Indonesia, Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang of the Philippines (also Chair of ASEAN Committee in Nairobi for 2023), and High Commissioner Ruzaimi bin Mohamad of Malaysia (Photo by the Indonesian Embassy in Kenya)

Ambassador Tang delivers the welcome remarks on behalf of the ASEAN Committee in Nairobi (ACN)

Members of the Filipino community in Kenya showcase their culinary creations at the ASEAN Food Festival (Photos by the Indonesian Embassy in Kenya)

Some of the lucky winners of the raffle draw generously sponsored by Qatar Airways (roundtrip ticket from Nairobi to any destination in Southeast Asia), Indomie Kenya, and Golden Africa Kenya Limited.

PH EMBASSY PARTICIPATES IN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC CHARITY BAZAAR IN NAIROBI

Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang (wearing gray) shows Ms. Charlene Ruto (holding PH traditional abaniko) the various handicrafts on sale at the Philippine booth. (Photo courtesy of the Office of the First Lady-Kenya)

 NAIROBI, 28 November 2023 – The Philippine Embassy joined hands with other diplomatic missions in Nairobi in raising funds for the less fortunate by selling their countries’ traditional handicrafts and food items at the International Diplomatic Charity Bazaar (IDCB), held at the Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel on 25 November 2023. The annual IDCB is organized by the Spouses of Head of Missions Association in Kenya (SHOM).

Guest of Honor Ms. Charlene Ruto, representing her mother First Lady Mme. Rachel Ruto, commended the diplomatic community in fostering a spirit of unity to support underprivileged Kenyans.

The Philippine booth showcased a variety of traditional items, drawing the attention of many visitors. The selection included the well-loved Philippine dried mangoes, handmade Yakan table runners, freshwater pearl accessories, and capiz shell crafts. Also on sale were traditional abanikos and an assortment of souvenirs, including miniature Philippine jeepneys–akin to Kenya's matatu–which were a particular hit with children.

Funds raised from the entrance and raffle ticket sales, along with contributions from participating missions, will be directed to various charitable projects supported by the SHOM. These include providing school fees for disadvantaged Kenyan students and persons with disabilities, installing and upgrading the solar power system of an elderly home, and reconstructing a four-classroom school that was destroyed by the recent heavy rains in parts of Kenya. END

From left: Ambassador Tang, Ms. Charlene Ruto, and Nairobi PE Attachés Ms. Celine Bejar and Mr. Fervie Jay Brubio