Embassy in the Hague sets Jose Rizal bust monument

to strengthen future Japan-Philippines defense cooperation.”

The ambassador also emphasized the importance of stronger cooperation among like-minded nations in preserving stability and peace in the world. Referencing the 2023 G7 Summit in Hiroshima chaired by Japan, he urged world leaders to take necessary steps in leading the international community toward greater cooperation, while deterring unwarranted division and confrontation.

According to Koshikawa, Japan has reinforced its commitments to regional peace and stability in achieving a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”

After emphasizing the importance of close cooperation among like-minded countries bonded by universal values and principles, he reaffirmed the shared commitments of Japan,

Philippines, and the United States in bolstering their maritime cooperation, as demonstrated by their coast guards’ first joint trilateral exercise.

The envoy also noted that the first-ever Japan-Australia-Philippines-US Defense Ministerial Meeting is a welcome development in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea.

When he touched upon the overall bilateral relations between Japan and the Philippines, Koshikawa mentioned Senate President Miguel

Zubiri and his delegation’s visit to the former country, then reaffirmed their relations with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida under their senatorial capacity, the convening of the second Japan-Philippines “2+2” meeting, and the future conclusion of their Reciprocal Access Agreement.

Further, the ambassador underscored the very close ties between Japan and the Philippines in a wide range of fields such as diplomacy, economy and culture, then noted that his country has delivered all of its promised projects to the latter.

THE bust monument in the Netherlands of Philippine hero Dr. Jose Rizal was unveiled at the Philippine Embassy grounds in The Hague on July 4 during a ceremony, with Knights of Rizal’s supreme commander Sir Gerardo V. Calderon (Knight Grand Cross of Rizal (KGCR)) as guest of honor.

Calderon commended the embassy for its noteworthy initiative in honoring Rizal through its monument project, in cooperation with the Knight of Rizal (KOR)-The Hague Chapter. “This bust will serve as a lasting reminder of Rizal’s works, teachings and sacrifices that will hopefully influence and inspire Filipinos and our Dutch friends in this part of Europe, he said”

Ambassador to the Netherlands

The Rizal bust was donated by the KOR-The Hague Chapter which is led by its chapter commander Sir Anton Lutter (Knight Commander of Rizal or KCR), who said that it is a “simple way of giving thanks to the Philippine Embassy for providing them collaborative opportunities in pursuit of the Order’s mission.” He made the arrangements for the sculpting of the bust by an artist in Angeles, Pampanga and for its transport to the Netherlands with Sir Steef Klarenbeek KCR.

Sir Felino Paras KGCR (Europe Regional Commander), Manila-based Supreme Council members, as well as various KOR chapters in Belgium and the Netherlands, including those in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht, also graced the occasion.

By Ambassador Michelle Boccoz of France

IT’S a pleasure for me to be with you today to celebrate the values of the French Republic here in the Philippines.

This [year’s] celebration also marks the end of my tenure in Manila. I will be leaving in three weeks' time, with the feeling that I have accomplished the mission that [President Emmanuel Macron] entrusted to me when he appointed me here two-and-a-half years ago.

President Marcos Jr. reminded me [on July 12] that I arrived in the midst of the “Covid” crisis and restrictions.

As soon as it was over, thanks to my team, we relaunched the bilateral relationship full steam ahead.

I believe deeply in this relationship. As you know, France is an Indo-Pacific nation with 2 million inhabitants in this zone, so close to the Philippines geographically and in terms of values. We believe deeply in democracy, a rules-based international order, and diplomacy.

We have just celebrated the seventh anniversary of the landmark 2016 arbitration award in favor of the Philippines, based on [the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or Unclos]. Join me, dear friends, in paying tribute to Ambassador Albert del Rosario, who successfully led this legal battle.

Both our countries also believe in protecting our planet and ecosystems, especially our oceans. Here, in the Philippines, climate change can be witnessed constantly; there is no “Plan B,” or “Planet B.”

THE trial one-year visa-free entry measure for nationals of the Philippines, Thailand, and Brunei Darussalam has been extended from August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024, according to a statement from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Teco).

This was after the said countries’ ministries of foreign affairs (MOFA) held a comprehensive review on April 25 of existing visa and entry measures that focused on the trial visa-free entry

This is why our French president is so committed to this issue. One of our joint bilateral priorities, as exemplified by the Shark Fin Bay project led by Frédéric Tardieu in Palawan on biodiversity and coral reefs restoration.

‘Key players’ DEAR Franco-Philippine friends, you are key players in building this mutual linkage!

Allow me to congratulate Philippine Airlines. Captain Stanley Ng is with us this evening on the acquisition of nine A350s, and on the project to open a direct route between Manila and Paris.

The interest of French companies keeps growing in all areas, with the number of projects and investments also growing, which is a true testament to the success of our partnership. This dynamism affects all areas of economic life.

Energy, of course, with, for example, TotalEnergies’ excellent solar-farm project in the province of Isabela, the prospects opened up by program for their nationals: the “Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries,” and the conditional visa-free entry through online applications of Taiwan’s “Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC)” scheme for the Southeast Asian states.

After evaluating the effectiveness of the abovementioned convenience measures over the past years, then considering the need to revive mutual bilateral

Hydrogène de France in Mindanao, as well as the potential of civil nuclear power.

I think of the infrastructure sector, with the successes of Alstom and Colas Rail, as well as the Matière Group; or the maritime sector, both strategic, with Naval Group's bid to jointly build a submarine with the Philippine Navy and civil, with OCEA’s long-standing cooperation with the coast guards.

‘Partnership of hearts’

THIS political and economic partnership could not exist without a third, most important partnership: The partnership of hearts.

Filipinos and French people share many passions: gastronomy, cinema, singing and music, sports—especially basketball, and many others—all celebrated during the 75th anniversary of our relations! But we now need to go even further.

Romain Gary, the great French diplomat and one of our literary [greats], wrote about the power of imagination: “You must always know the limits of what is possible. Not to stop, but to attempt the impossible under the best possible conditions.”

Tonight, my friends, let us follow Gary’s word. I invite you, [and all of] us, to be more imaginative, more ambitious in bringing the FrancoPhilippine ties to the next step.

This will be focused on young people, on student mobility, where we can do more and better, like doubling the number of Filipino students in France by 2025. We count on the new generation to breathe more life in all these areas with ambition and imagination.