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Embassy of the Philippines, Bucharest

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Coordinates: 44°26′12.3″N 26°4′5.3″E / 44.436750°N 26.068139°E / 44.436750; 26.068139
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Embassy of the Philippines, Bucharest
Pasuguan ng Pilipinas sa Bucharest
Ambasada Filipine în București
LocationBucharest
AddressStrada Carol Davila nr. 105-107, Sector 5
Coordinates44°26′12.3″N 26°4′5.3″E / 44.436750°N 26.068139°E / 44.436750; 26.068139
AmbassadorIsaias F. Begonia
(last resident ambassador)
Noel Eugene E. Servigon
(Ambassador-Designate)

The Embassy of the Philippines in Bucharest was the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to Romania. Opened in 1975, it was located in the neighborhood of Cotroceni, part of Sector 5 in western Bucharest.

Closed in 2012 due to a reduction in the Philippines' diplomatic presence worldwide during the presidency of Benigno Aquino III, the mission is scheduled to reopen in 2024.

History

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Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Romania were established on March 10, 1972,[1] the first country in the Eastern Bloc to do so,[2] and beginning a broader push during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos to normalize relations between the Philippines and countries within the bloc.[3] Although relations were initially conducted through the Philippine Mission in Geneva,[4] a resident embassy in Romania was later opened in March 1975, a month after the opening of the Romanian Embassy in Manila,[1] with Leticia Ramos-Shahani serving as the Philippines' first ambassador to Romania as well as the first woman to serve as ambassador to a country in the bloc.[5] The mission was also responsible for the Philippines' relations with Bulgaria and Moldova.[6]

After a massive expansion of the Philippines' diplomatic presence abroad during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, 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.[7] This would lead to the closure of ten posts under Arroyo's successor, Benigno Aquino III, and ultimately to the closure of the Embassy on October 31, 2012.[8] While it was closed, all three countries where it exercised jurisdiction were placed under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Budapest.[9]

On November 15, 2022, during budget deliberations for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Senator Loren Legarda announced that the Embassy was one of four missions that would reopen in 2024 as part of an expansion of the Philippines' diplomatic presence under Bongbong Marcos.[10] This was later confirmed by the Budapest mission on January 29, 2024 when, during its annual consular outreach mission in Bucharest, it noted that this would be its last consular mission owing to the Embassy's impending reopening later in the year,[11] and the DFA itself confirmed the reopening on June 21, 2024 during the opening of a new honorary consulate in Brașov.[12]

The advance team setting up the Embassy announced that they had arrived in Bucharest on September 14, 2024, and are preparing to immediately begin offering consular services once the mission has completed all the required procedures for opening.[13]

Staff and activities

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The Philippine Embassy in Bucharest was last headed by Ambassador Isaias F. Begonia, the Philippines' most recent resident ambassador to Romania. A career diplomat who was appointed to the position by President Arroyo, he was previously deployed to the Philippine Embassy in Doha as ambassador to Qatar.[14] His appointment was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) on May 27, 2009,[15] and he retired from the foreign service the following year.[16] At the time the Embassy closed in 2012, it was headed by Maria Fe T. Pangilinan as chargée d'affaires.[17]

With the Embassy's impending reopening it is set to be headed by a new ambassador, Noel Eugene E. Servigon, who was appointed to the position by President Marcos on June 11, 2024.[18] Prior to becoming Ambassador, Servigon, a career diplomat, served as the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.[19] His appointment was confirmed by the CA on August 7, 2024.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Republica FILIPINE" [Republic of the PHILIPPINES] (in Romanian). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  2. ^ Matache, Răduța Dana (December 1, 2022). "A momentous day in a troubled time". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "Address of President Marcos during the 84th Foundation Day of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Official Gazette. June 23, 1982. Retrieved October 5, 2024. Upon assuming the Presidency of the Third Republic in 1966, I immediately moved to open the Philippines to normal contact with the Socialist bloc [...] And in 1968, the Philippines announced her readiness to open trade relations with Eastern European countries. Diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia and Romania were established in 1972.
  4. ^ Tarriela, Flor G. (April 14, 2024). "Unstoppable "Commander" Delia Domingo Albert". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  5. ^ Ramos Shahani, Lila (December 15, 2014). "The Door I Came In". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  6. ^ "Directory of Philippine Embassies worldwide". The Philippine Star. April 1, 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  7. ^ Ager, Maila (October 20, 2010). "Review sought over number of RP embassies". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 23, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  8. ^ 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 October 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Ubac, Michael Lim (July 27, 2013). "9 appointed to foreign posts; turf of envoy to US widened". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  10. ^ Tamayo, Bernadette E. (November 15, 2022). "DFA to reopen 4 embassies as Senate okays P20.3B budget". The Manila Times. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  11. ^ "PH Embassy Conducts 1st Consular Mission in 2024 in Bucharest" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Budarest. January 29, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  12. ^ "PHILIPPINES OPENS 1ST CONSULATE IN ROMANIA" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Budarest. June 21, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  13. ^ "PHILIPPINE EMBASSY TO OPEN SOON" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Bucharest. September 14, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  14. ^ "Remains of 2 Filipinos killed in Qatar blast arrive in Manila". GMA News and Public Affairs. May 2, 2008. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  15. ^ Calica, Aurea (May 28, 2009). "Commission on Appointments defers Yano's appointment anew, but gives nod to Roque". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  16. ^ Mendez, Christina (November 11, 2010). "Cabinet 'lightweights' face tough CA grilling". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  17. ^ "Ambasada Republicii Filipine în România" [Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Romania] (in Romanian). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania. Archived from the original on October 29, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  18. ^ Mangaluz, Jean (June 12, 2024). "Palace bares new DFA, DILG, SBMA appointees". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  19. ^ Lee-Brago, Pia (April 12, 2021). "Philippines to Myanmar: Adhere to ASEAN Human Rights Declaration". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  20. ^ Torregoza, Hannah L. (August 7, 2024). "CA swiftly OKs appointment of Angara as DepEd chief". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
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