Embassy of the Philippines, Lisbon

The Embassy of the Philippines in Lisbon is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Portuguese Republic. It is located in the freguesia of Santo António in central Lisbon, next to the Casa-Museu Medeiros e Almeida, and near the Avenida da Liberdade and the Marquis of Pombal Square. Although the current chancery dates from 2010, the Philippines also maintained a previous resident embassy in Portugal between 1965 and 1974.

Embassy of the Philippines, Lisbon
Pasuguan ng Pilipinas sa Lisboa
Embaixada das Filipinas em Lisboa
LocationLisbon, Portugal
AddressRua Barata Salgueiro 30
Coordinates38°43′16.8″N 9°8′55.6″W
AmbassadorCelia Anna M. Feria
WebsiteOfficial website

History

Although diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Portugal were established on September 3, 1959, during the presidency of Carlos P. Garcia,[1] the Philippines did not immediately open a diplomatic mission in Portugal. Garcia's successor, Diosdado Macapagal, would sign an administrative order designating an embassy in Portugal on March 20, 1965,[2] and nearly three months later on June 8, 1965, he announced that the Philippines would open a resident embassy in Lisbon later that year.[3]

Macapagal's successor, Ferdinand Marcos, would subsequently order the Embassy's closure in 1974.[4] While there was no resident embassy in Portugal, relations were conducted through an honorary consulate, led by Manuel Pinheiro,[4] and the country was placed under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Paris.[5]

The Philippine Embassy in Lisbon was reopened in 2010,[6] during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at around the same time new embassies were also opened in Finland, Ireland and Poland.[7] Arroyo's successor, Benigno Aquino III, would later appoint Philippe J. Lhuillier, at the time serving at the Philippine Embassy in Rome as ambassador to Italy, as ambassador to Portugal, with Lhuillier assuming his post on October 8, 2012.[6] In 2015, the Embassy's jurisdiction was expanded to include Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé and Príncipe, covering most of the Portuguese-speaking African countries.[8]

After a massive expansion of the Philippines' diplomatic presence abroad during Arroyo's presidency, in 2010 Senator Franklin Drilon questioned the need for embassies in countries with small Filipino communities, including a number of countries in Europe, and called for a review of the Philippines' diplomatic presence worldwide.[9] This would lead to the closure of ten posts under Aquino, which took effect by October 31, 2012.[10] The closures were not without controversy: Victoria "Vickie" Villar, who led a protest march against the then-impending closure of the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, demanded that the embassy in Lisbon be closed instead as there were fewer Filipinos in Portugal compared to Germany.[11]

Staff and activities

The Philippine Embassy in Lisbon is currently headed by the Philippine ambassador to Portugal, Celia Anna M. Feria. Prior to becoming Ambassador, Feria, a career diplomat, served as the Chief of Protocol to President Aquino, later helping organize Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines in 2015,[12] and was subsequently appointed by him to serve as ambassador to Spain on December 29, 2015,[13] just over five months before the following year's presidential election.

The appointment was blocked a month later by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile while it was being debated by the Commission on Appointments (CA), reasoning that the appointment would be unfair to the incoming President who would be deprived of the opportunity to appoint whoever they may prefer.[14] Although this reasoning was opposed by Drilon, at the time serving as Senate President,[15] the CA ultimately bypassed her appointment on procedural grounds,[16] and Feria returned to her previous position until she was then appointed by Aquino's successor, Rodrigo Duterte, as ambassador to Portugal on January 16, 2017,[17] with her predecessor, Lhuillier, being appointed as ambassador to Spain.[18] Feria's appointment, which would have been her first ambassadorial posting,[12] was then confirmed by the CA on February 8, 2017,[19] and she presented her credentials to President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on June 7, 2017.[20]

Many of the Embassy's activities are connected to deepening and strengthening cultural and economic ties between the Philippines and Portugal – ties which were described by Lhuillier as being "stale" and which ought to be revived.[21] Among its activities include organizing an exhibition on the banig mats of Basey,[22] facilitating a workshop on Philippine weaving traditions,[23] hosting a round table discussion on Portugal as an investment destination for Philippine businesses,[24] and promoting the Philippines as a tourist destination.[25]

In addition to these activities, the Embassy also conducts welfare activities for the community of Filipinos in Portugal, including warning Filipinos against non-existent scam job listings in Portugal,[26] and registering Filipino seafarers based in the country as voters in upcoming elections.[27]

See also

References
  1. "Official Week in Review: August 30 – September 5, 1959". Official Gazette. Retrieved September 9, 2022. President Garcia today stated that the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Portugal opens brighter prospects and opportunities for advancing economic and cultural ties between the two countries. The President made this statement after the presentation of credentials of Dr. Emilio Patricio as minister-designate of Portugal to the Philippines. The ceremony was held this afternoon at the Malacañang ceremonial hall.
  2. "Administrative Order No. 116, s. 1965". Official Gazette. March 20, 1965. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  3. "Official Week in Review: June 6 – June 12, 1965". Official Gazette. Retrieved September 9, 2022. PRESIDENT Macapagal receives the credentials of Ambassador Antonio Novais Machado of Portugal who succeeded Ambassador Fernando Lobao de Carvalho. In response to the speech made by the new Portuguese envoy, the President states that the existing ties between the Philippines and Portugal will be strengthened and that a resident mission will soon be established in Lisbon.
  4. "Former Honorary Consul General in Lisbon receives Secretary Romulo's commendation for meritorious services" (Press release). Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. February 4, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  5. Villanueva, Marichu A. (October 3, 2003). "For lack of 'better candidates,' Pinoys in Paris go for GMA, Roco". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  6. "PHL Embassy in Lisbon sets record of 6,000 Filipino seafarers registered for OAV" (Press release). Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. November 5, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  7. Balana, Cynthia (July 15, 2009). "Philippines opens embassy in Dublin". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  8. "Several PH ambassadors given add'l jurisdictions". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. October 31, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  9. Ager, Maila (October 20, 2010). "Review sought over number of RP embassies". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 23, 2010. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  10. Del Callar, Michaela (September 4, 2012). "DFA shuts down five overseas posts, with five more to close this year". GMA News and Public Affairs. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  11. Buenafe, Danny (March 14, 2012). "Pinoys protest closure of Frankfurt consulate". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  12. Honasan, Alya B. (September 16, 2018). "Pope Francis' favorite 'señora' in Manila is now our lady in Lisbon". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  13. Cabacungan, Gil (January 5, 2016). "Aquino names new envoy to Spain". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  14. Ager, Maila (February 3, 2016). "Enrile blocks confirmation of COA, CSC officials". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  15. Avendaño, Christina O.; Salaverria, Leila B. (February 5, 2016). "Drilon wants CA rules amended". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  16. Sy, Marvin (February 3, 2016). "CA bypasses confirmation of seven Aquino appointees". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  17. ACTION: CONFIRMED – Appointment From June 11, 2016 To May 31, 2017 (PDF) (Report). Commission on Appointments. p. 3. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  18. Cabacungan, Gil C. (October 11, 2016). "Duterte swears in 124 gov't officials". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  19. Sy, Marvin (February 9, 2017). "Año, 29 AFP officials, 5 envoys hurdle CA". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  20. "Presidente da República recebeu credenciais de novos Embaixadores em Portugal" [The President of the Republic receives the credentials of new Ambassadors to Portugal] (Press release) (in Portuguese). Office of the President of Portugal. June 7, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  21. Quismundo, Tarra (April 29, 2013). "Envoy to boost ties with Lisbon". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  22. Soliman, Michelle Anne P. (January 2, 2020). "The Filipino banig: more than just decor". BusinessWorld. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  23. Fadriquela, Jerome (September 15, 2021). "Traditional Philippine weaving, ipinakilala sa Portugal" [Traditional Philippine weaving introduced in Portugal] (in Filipino). ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  24. Dinglasan, Rouchelle R. (January 21, 2015). "EU's Portugal opens doors to Pinoy investors". GMA News and Public Affairs. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  25. "Ambassador helps boost PH tourism in Portugal". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. March 15, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  26. Andrade, Jeannette I. (December 23, 2016). "Scammers offering jobs to Portugal, public warned". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  27. Quismundo, Tarra (April 25, 2013). "Filipino seafarers in Portugal get to vote for first time in years through OAV". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
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