The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya

Philippine Mayor Champions SDG Localization at the UN-Habitat Forum in Nairobi

PR Surigao Mayor 2025

Nairobi, 30 MAY 2025 - Surigao City Mayor Pablo Yves L. Dumlao II presented his city’s pioneering efforts in localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the high-level forum on “Multilevel Governance for SDG Localization”, held on 28 May 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in Nairobi.

The event, jointly organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, took place on the sidelines of the resumed second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly (UNHA-2.2).

In his address, Mayor Dumlao emphasized Surigao City’s strong commitment to advancing the SDGs– the global agenda to end poverty, protect the planet, and promote peace and prosperity– by integrating them into local planning and development efforts. He highlighted the city’s Voluntary Local Review (VLR) initiative, developed in collaboration with the UN Habitat, which tracks and assesses local progress on the SDGs.

Surigao City is one of only four Philippine cities to have completed a VLR, and the first on the island of Mindanao, he said. The mayor shared that the city has localized the SDGs down to the household level, empowering families to monitor their own progress and actively contribute to broader community goals. “The SDGs will be won or lost at the local level—starting with families,” he said.

Mayor Dumlao also noted ongoing programs in housing and resilient settlements, including initiatives for indigenous communities such as the Sama Bajau. He added that Surigao’s Regional Development Council had passed a resolution encouraging other local government units (LGUs) in the region to adopt similar approaches to sustainable and inclusive development.

“Surigao City’s participation in the forum highlights the Philippines’ continuing commitment to strengthening multilevel governance and advancing the global SDGs through local action,” said Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, Philippine Ambassador to Kenya and Permanent Representative to UN Habitat. END

Philippine Embassy in Nairobi Conducts First Consular Outreach in Addis Ababa

ETHIOPIA Photo 1 The Philippine Embassy team meets with Filipino community leaders in Ethiopia.

NAIROBI, 21 May 2025 — The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi carried out its first consular outreach in Addis Ababa on 18-19 May 2025, following its assumption of jurisdiction over Ethiopia from the Embassy in Cairo in October 2024.

In coordination with the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Addis Ababa, the Embassy delivered essential consular and assistance-to-nationals (ATN) services and met with members of the Filipino community, estimated at around 140. Most are based in the capital and reported generally positive living conditions.

The Embassy team also paid a courtesy call on the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs marking. Both sides welcomed the opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation.

The Philippines and Ethiopia share longstanding ties, highlighted by the deployment of 137 Filipino teachers in the 1970s, contributing to Ethiopia’s education initiatives.

This outreach underscores the Philippines’ commitment to serving the Filipino community and expanding diplomatic engagement in Africa. END

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Filipino community members fill out the Online Mapping Form during the Embassy’s outreach in Addis Ababa.

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Courtesy call by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Jopol Alvin C. Ancheta on Director Ephrem Beshah Mako of the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PH Embassy Highlights Tourism Cooperation with Kenya

HALO HALO DIPLOMACY IN KENYA

Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang shares observations during the Engagement Session with Asian Foreign Missions on tourism held at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi.

NAIROBI, 15 May 2025 — The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi joined fellow Asian diplomatic missions in reaffirming their shared commitment to strengthening tourism exchanges with Kenya during a dialogue with senior Kenyan tourism officials.

Held at the Serena Hotel on 14 May 2025, the event was co-hosted by Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs (MFDA) and the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB).

The gathering aimed to build partnerships and spotlight Kenya as a top destination for Asian travelers and tourism investment.

Philippine Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang joined senior Kenyan officials, including Ambassador Jane Makori, Deputy Director General for Asia and the Pacific of the MFDA and Ms. June Chepkeme, CEO of KTB, as well as diplomats from Malaysia, China, South Korea, Pakistan, and Australia at the event.

KTB outlined its plans to increase tourist arrivals from Asia through enhanced destination branding, product diversification, improved air connectivity, and customized travel offerings.

Ambassador Tang highlighted the Philippines’ growing community of young, experience-driven, and social media savvy travelers and called for strong support for joint tourism promotions and youth-centered travel initiatives, inviting more Kenyan travelers to also discover the Philippines.

“There is great potential for tourism and cultural exchanges between the Philippines and Kenya if we work together to strengthen awareness and improve accessibility,” Ambassador Tang noted.

The event served as a valuable platform for exchanging ideas on deepening tourism cooperation, strengthening mutual understanding, and fostering people-to-people connections between the Philippines and Kenya. END

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Representatives from Asian diplomatic missions attend the tourism-focused engagement gathering organized by Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and the Kenya Tourism Board.

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Kenya Tourism Board CEO June Chepkemei addresses participants on strategic priorities to boost tourism from Asia.

Philippines Shines with Halo-Halo at the 2025 ASEAN Food Festival in Nairobi

NAIROBI, 29 April 2025 — The halo-halo took center stage at the 2025 ASEAN Food Festival, held at the Village Market in Nairobi on 26 April 2025.

Its vibrant colors and refreshing taste quickly became a festival favorite, drawing in a diverse crowd of Kenyans, expatriates, and diplomats.

Alongside the halo-halo, the Philippine booth showcased an array of beloved Filipino dishes, including chicken adobo, lumpiang shanghai, pansit, chicken inasal, pork barbecue, and popular street foods like fish balls and squid balls.

The Filipino community in Kenya played a vital role in preparing and presenting the dishes, ensuring an authentic taste of the Philippines, contributing to a timely celebration of Filipino Food Month in April.

Organized by the ASEAN Committee in Nairobi (ACN), which includes the diplomatic missions of the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, the eagerly-anticipated annual festival offered ASEAN regional favorites such as Indonesia’s bakso, Malaysia’s rendang, Thailand’s pad kra pao. This year, the Vietnamese community in Nairobi also participated in the festival.

The event included live cooking demonstrations and raffle prizes sponsored by Air Asia, Indomie, and Golden Africa, creating a festive atmosphere.

Philippine Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang emphasized the event’s significance in fostering cultural and economic diplomacy, strengthening people-to-people ties, raising the profile of ASEAN in Kenya, and enhancing ASEAN-Kenya partnerships.END

PR Halo Halo 1

The halo-halo highlighted the Philippine booth at the 2025 ASEAN Food Festival in Nairobi.

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The ASEAN Handshake. From left to right: Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Danny Rahdiansyah (Indonesia), Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang (The Philippines), High Commissioner Ruzaimi Mohamad (Malaysia), Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Deputy Director General for Asia Pacific Henry Wambuma (Kenya), and Ambassador Morakot Janemathukorn (Thailand)

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