GOVPH

STATEMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY TEODORO L. LOCSIN, JR. ON THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ISSUANCE OF THE AWARD ON THE SOUTH CHINA SEA ARBITRATION

On July 12, 2021, we observe the fifth anniversary of the Award on the South China Sea Arbitration.

The Award conclusively settled the status of historic rights and maritime entitlements in the South China Sea.  It declared as without legal effect claims that exceed geographic and substantive limits of maritime entitlements under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.  So, it did not throw historic claims out the window; it discriminated among them.

It dashed among others a nine-dash line; and any expectation that possession is 9/10ths of the law.  Because the mere fact of possession produces no legal effect, such as a territorial sea of any extent.  

Thus, the Arbitral Award became and continues to be a milestone in the corpus of international law.  It is available to other countries with the same problematic maritime features as ours.  It puts one issue out of the way of conflict; because there is nothing there taken by force that results in any gain in law. 

Read full text here.

FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN BRUNEI CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE DAY FESTIVAL OF CULTURE

15 June 2021, Bandar Seri Begawan – With the easing of restrictions on mass gatherings, the Philippine Embassy and the Filipino community in Brunei Darussalam held a physical celebration of the 123^rd Anniversary of the Philippine Independence with a Pistang Pinoy at the Embassy grounds in the Diplomatic Enclave.

The festive event commenced with a flag-raising ceremony followed by a formal program that included the reading of Independence Day messages of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and other high Philippine government officials. This was followed by a ceremonial cake-cutting participated in by Embassy officials and leaders of the Filipino Community, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially launch the event.

In his remarks, Philippine Ambassador Christopher B. Montero praised the outstanding way that Brunei has managed the COVID-19 pandemic which enabled the Embassy to organize a physical celebration with the Filipino community this year. He underscored that the event was held primarily to foster a cultural atmosphere that is conducive to rekindling Filipino traditions that the community has not been able to experience since the onset of the pandemic. He thanked the Filipino community for their active participation and support to the Embassy in organizing the event.

The Embassy compound was filled with festive music and fun games with more than eight hundred (800) people in attendance.

A total of seventeen (17) Filipino Community Organizations joined the culinary booth fair with each booth featuring the popular food of a designated region. Filipino dishes ranging from the street food of the National Capital Region (NCR) such as balut and taho to the exotic dishes of Region 12 such as beef and chicken pastel and nilasing na talapia were made available to guests.

The different booths were beautifully decorated with colorful buntings, woven textiles and images of the Philippines. The Pinoy Bowlers Club representing Region XIII won the first prize for the best decorated booth. The second and third prizes were awarded to Guardians Team Marshall (Region I) and Filipino Bowlers Club (Region VII).

A Palarong Pinoy such as “pabitin” and “basagang palayok” drew a lively audience participation, in addition to cultural presentations that included traditional dances and songs performed by members of the Filipino Community.

On the same day, the Embassy also opened its doors to the public for consular services such as passport renewals and applications, civil registry and overseas absentee voting registration during the event. Together with it partner agencies – POLO, OWWA, SSS and PAG-IBIG – the Embassy delivered frontline services to a total of 208 clients. END

Ambassador Montero with Embassy officials and the leaders of the Filipino Community pose for a photo during the traditional Independence Day cake-cutting ceremony.

Participants joins the fun during the Philippine traditional games Pabitin, Basaging Palayok and Sack race

 

Cultural performances by the Filipino Community members