AMBASSADOR TANG PRESENTS CREDENTIALS AS PH NON-RESIDENT ENVOY TO UGANDA

Philippine Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang (left) and Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (right) hold a tete-a-tete (Photo credit: State House of Uganda).

ENTEBBE, 23 August 2023 – Philippine Ambassador to Uganda Marie Charlotte G. Tang, with residence in Nairobi, Kenya, presented her credentials to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in a ceremony held on 22 August 2023 at the State House in Entebbe, Uganda.

Ambassador Tang conveyed the well wishes of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to President Museveni and the people of Uganda. She expressed that during her tenure as the Philippine Ambassador, she will endeavor to strengthen the cooperation between the Philippines and Uganda for the mutual benefit of their peoples. She also noted the vibrancy of Kampala and economic progress being made by Uganda.

President Museveni warmly welcomed Ambassador Tang to Uganda and expressed his interest in Philippine history including the country’s journey towards independence.

During her visit to Uganda, Ambassador Tang also met with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and discussed ways to strengthen the engagements between the Philippines and Uganda, bilaterally and multilaterally, and through South-South cooperation.

Uganda, located in east-central Africa, is known as the “Pearl of Africa” for its stunning natural landscapes and abundant flora and fauna. According to the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD), Uganda is among the most biodiverse countries in the world; it is home to half of the world’s remaining population of mountain gorillas and has half of all known bird species in Africa, including the majestic grey crowned crane which is the country’s national bird. END

Ambassador Tang presents her letter of credence as the Philippine non-resident Ambassador to Uganda (Photo credit: State House of Uganda).

Ambassador Tang with President Museveni (Photo credit: State House of Uganda)

Ambassador Tang (third from left) and President Museveni (fourth from left). Ambassador Tang was joined by Capt. Abhay Agarwal, Ret., Philippine Honorary Consul to Uganda (second from left); and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Louie Dane C. Merced of Nairobi PE (leftmost) (Photo credit: State House of Uganda).

Ambassador Tang called on Ambassador John Mulimba, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Uganda, during which they discussed possible areas of collaboration between the Philippines and Uganda.

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.