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By Dr. Alberto G. Romulo
, Secretary of Foreign Affairs
My official visit this week to
Spain builds on the accomplishments of the President’s highly
successful State Visit in December 2007, further deepens the
Philippines engagement with a fraternal partner and reinforces our
commitment with the international community to pursue global
development in its fullest form.
In Barcelona, I will formally
inaugurate the Philippine Consulate General headed by a career
Philippine Foreign Service Officer.
The inauguration coincides with
the celebration of the 110th Anniversary of the Proclamation of
Philippine Independence and underscores the special warm relations
and profound sociocultural ties shared by the Philippines and Spain.
Barcelona and Catalunya hold
special significance for the Philippines and freedom-aspiring
Filipinos: Barcelona was the first Spanish City known by our
national hero Jose Rizal. In Barcelona was likewise founded La
Solidaridad, the movement of Filipino intellectuals and the
newspaper of the same name that articulated the ardent call for
radical reforms in the Philippines.
The Philippine Consulate General
will serve the estimated 20,000 Filipinos in the Catalonian region,
the thousands of Filipino seafarers passing through this vital and
busy international port city, and the Philippines’ political and
trade interests in this important part of Spain.
A meeting with the President of
the Parliament of Catalunya Hon. Ernest Benach I. Pascual and other
officials has been arranged to explore opportunities for broader
cooperative ties between the Philippines and Spain’s Catalonian
region.
In Zaragoza, together with
ministers of other participating nations, I will attend the official
opening ceremonies of Expo Zaragoza to be officiated by King Juan
Carlos I.
At the Expo Zaragoza 2008, the
Philippine Pavilion will be formally opened.
Expositions are vital
international platforms for bringing together the global community
to advance common interests, share worthwhile experiences and
express national priorities and programs.
With the theme “Water and
Sustainable Development,” Expo Zaragoza 2008 aims to showcase the
world’s best practices and innovations in managing, protecting and
sustaining water resources.
With Spain’s special invitation
for the Philippines and its support, we have a vital opportunity to
highlight the best our nation has in water resource management.
The Philippine pavilion,
“Filipinas archipiélago el mundo acuático,” will introduce
visitors to almost 200 community-based water management projects
undertaken by the Philippines.
The display will likewise
demonstrate how water forms a vital part of Filipino culture and
tradition, our geothermal resources, marine preservation activities,
and ecotourism. The Pavilion will articulate the Philippines’
resolve to protect and manage our water resources for posterity.
The President’s visit to Spain
in 2007 resulted in concrete collaborative projects, such as in
fisheries and academic exchanges. With these meetings, we seek now
to further reinforce our ties as expanding relations rightly should.
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