PH SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES CHAIRSHIP OF ASEAN COMMITTEE IN NAIROBI (ACN)

From left to right: Philippine Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang (third from left) hands over the chairship of the ASEAN Committee in Nairobi (ACN) to Ambassador Morakot Janemathukorn of Thailand (second from left). They are joined by Ambassador Mohamad Hery Saripudin of Indonesia (leftmost) and High Commissioner Ruzaimi Mohamad of Malaysia (rightmost).

NAIROBI, 19 April 2024 – Philippine Ambassador to Kenya Marie Charlotte G. Tang handed over the chairship of the ASEAN Committee in Nairobi (ACN) to Ambassador Morakot Janemathukorn of Thailand at the ACN meeting held on 19 April 2024 at the Tribe Hotel in Nairobi.

Amb. Tang thanked her ASEAN counterparts for their support and cooperation during the Philippines’ chairship in 2023. The other ASEAN heads of mission also expressed appreciation to Amb. Tang and the Philippine Embassy for spearheading the ACN activities towards increasing the visibility of ASEAN in Kenya.

During its ACN chairship, the Philippines led the commemoration of the annual ASEAN Day, the conduct of the ASEAN Family Day and the ASEAN Food Festival, and the outreach to the academic community through the Speaker Series with ASEAN Ambassadors in partnership with Strathmore University in Nairobi.

Another initiative of the Philippines was the drafting of the Rules of Procedure (RoP) to guide the work and processes of the ACN, based on ASEAN’s Terms of Reference (ToR) and RoP for ASEAN Committees in Third Countries and International Organizations. The RoP for the ACN was adopted at the meeting on 19 April.

The ACN is composed of the four ASEAN Member States (out of ten) with resident embassies in Nairobi namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand. END

The ACN meeting discussed activities that the Committee will organize in 2024.

The ACN Heads of Mission and Working Group members pose for a group photo.

Amb. Tang as she presides over her last ACN meeting as Chair.

PH EMBASSY HOLDS SEMINAR ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN KENYA TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH

Philippine Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang (seated, fifth from left), Deputy Executive Director Janet P. Anyango of FIDA-Kenya (seated, fourth from left), Ambassador Morakot Janemathukorn of Thailand (seated, third from left), High Commissioner Ruzaimi bin Mohamad of Malaysia (seated, sixth from left), and the attendees of the seminar pose for a group photo.

NAIROBI, 25 March 2024 – The Philippine Embassy in Kenya, in celebration of the Philippine National Women’s Month, organized a seminar titled, “Understanding Kenya’s Legal Frameworks for Protecting and Promoting Women’s Rights” on 24 March 2024 at the Embassy grounds.

The seminar aimed to increase the Filipino community’s awareness of Kenyan laws that protect the rights of women. Women in diaspora are said to be more vulnerable to gender-related challenges due to their lack of familiarity with local laws as well as their reluctance to avail themselves of remedies available in the host country.

The Embassy partnered with the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) for the event, with Deputy Executive Director Janet P. Anyango serving as the resource person.

Ms. Anyango shared that since the adoption of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, the country has developed progressive laws in the areas of matrimonial property rights, prevention of gender-based violence, and protection of survivors of gender-based crimes. She, however, admitted that there remain several challenges to promoting women’s rights in Kenya, and emphasized the crucial role of education and forging multi-sectoral partnerships.

In her remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Kenya Marie Charlotte G. Tang emphasized the Philippine Government’s strong advocacies on gender equality and women empowerment and how these align with the Bagong Pilipinas campaign, which is the overarching theme of governance and leadership under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. She added that a society that is free from gender-based stereotypes, discrimination, and violence is key to a more progressive, inclusive, and “new Philippines”.

Aside from Filipino community members, the seminar was attended by heads of mission and officials of other ASEAN member countries in Nairobi. END

Deputy Executive Director Janet P. Anyango shares information on the work of FIDA-Kenya, including the provision of free legal assistance, support for legal and human rights education, and engagement in grassroots community advocacy.

Philippine Ambassador to Kenya Marie Charlotte G. Tang notes how the annual observance of the Philippine National Women’s Month provides an opportunity to raise awareness and have a conversation on issues and concerns affecting women.  

From left to right: Christabella Naliaka Barasa, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Lead of FIDA-Kenya; Deputy Executive Director Anyango; Ambassador Tang; Nairobi PE Consul Maria Rosanna O. Josue; and Nairobi PE Vice Consul and GAD Focal Point Officer (GFPO) Louie Dane C. Merced

PH AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS AS THE FIRST PH ENVOY ACCREDITED TO SOMALIA

PH Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang (right) presents her letter of credence to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of the Federal Republic of Somalia (Villa Somalia photo)

NAIROBI, 22 March 2024 – Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, with residence in Nairobi, Kenya, presented her credentials to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on 21 March 2024 at the Villa Somalia in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, making her the first Philippine Ambassador to be accredited to the country. 

During the ceremony, Ambassador Tang conveyed the warm greetings of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to President Mohamud and to the Somali people.

Ambassador Tang commended the security and socio-economic gains in Somalia under the leadership of President Mohamud and reaffirmed the Philippines' full support for the country’s continued progress. She expressed her desire to work with the Somali government in exploring areas of cooperation to further enhance bilateral relations.

President Mohamud conveyed his appreciation to President Marcos for appointing an ambassador to Somalia. He voiced his hope for Philippine companies to consider the investment opportunities in Somalia, highlighting the country’s rich maritime resources and ongoing infrastructure improvements.

While in the country, Ambassador Tang also met with members of the Filipino community in Somalia, many of whom are professionals and skilled workers working with UN agencies and contractors servicing the UN. The Filipino community expressed appreciation for having a Philippine ambassador visit them in Mogadishu for the first time.

Somalia, located in the Horn of Africa, boasts the longest coastline on mainland Africa, stretching over 3,000 kilometers along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. While the country was battered by decades of political and economic upheavals, it has recently made advances in promoting security, development, and resilience. In 2023, Somalia was officially admitted as the newest member of the East African Community (EAC). 

The Philippines and Somalia formally established relations on 20 April 1976, with Somalia being one of the 12 African countries under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Kenya. END

Ambassador Tang and President Mohamud (Villa Somalia photo)

Ambassador Tang and President Mohamud hold a tête-à-tête (Villa Somalia photo)

From right: President Mohamud, Ambassador Tang, and Nairobi PE Attaché Sherlyn M. Roxas (Villa Somalia photo)

Prior to the credentials ceremony, Ambassador Tang presented an open copy of her Letter of Credence to Somali Acting Foreign Minister and State Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ali Mohamed Omar. The two officials discussed possible areas of cooperation between the Philippines and Somalia.

Ambassador Tang (third from left) and Attaché Roxas (second from left) with members of the Filipino community in Mogadishu.