Ireland–Philippines relations

Ireland–Philippines relations

Ireland
Philippines

Ireland–Philippines relations are the political, economic, religious and cultural relations between Ireland and the Philippines. Ireland is represented in the Philippines through its embassy in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and an honorary consulate in Manila. The Philippines had an embassy in Dublin but due to financial and organisational burdens was forced to close in 2012.

History

Until comparatively recent times the story of Ireland–Philippines relations was that of a flow of Irish Catholic missionaries to the Philippines.[1] Irish Catholic orders such as the Sisters of Charity founded houses in the Philippines as early as 1862.[2] The Maynooth mission to China was extended to the Philippines in 1929.[3]

In 1984, the two countries established formal diplomatic relations.[4] In the 1980s, the Government of Ireland made representations to the Government of the Philippines concerning the welfare of missionaries in the Philippines.[5] Due to the presence of a strong common dominant faith, the Catholic faith, the Philippines has been described as “a sort of Catholic Ireland located off the coastline of Asia".[6] A strong cultural link between the two countries is that many people in the Philippines have been educated by Irish missionaries.[7] Irish missionary and charitable organisations such as Trócaire were involved in opposition to the Marcos regime in the Philippines.[8]

Philippines Consulate / Embassy in Ireland

The Philippines is represented in Ireland by His Excellency Enrique A. Manalo, non-resident Ambassador of the Philippines, who presented his credentials to President Michael D. Higgins on 27 February 2013. The Philippine Consulate in Dublin is headed by Honorary Consul Mark Christopher Congdon and ran on a day-to-day basis by Director of Operations Raymond Garrett.

On 30 May 2009 Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the President of the Philippines swore in Ariel Abadilla, as the Philippine's first full-time resident ambassador to Ireland.[9] The appointment followed the announcement by the Filipino Department of Foreign Affairs of plans to open a number of new embassies and consulates in 2009 in an effort to reach out to and be of service to more Filipinos abroad who continue to move out of the country for better employment opportunities.

Ambassador Abadilla presented his letter of credence on 29 June 2009 to the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese at a ceremony held at the State Reception Room of Áras an Uachtaráin in Phoenix Park, Dublin. Ambassador Abadilla was accompanied by his two daughters, Marienette and Katherine as well as other members of the Filipino mission. The new ambassador was given military honors at the President's residence.[10] On 16 July 2012, the Philippine embassy in Ireland was closed and in October 2010 an Honorary Consul was appointed.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Catholic Church press releases
  2. ↑ Translocations: Migration and Social Change, An Inter-Disciplinary Open Access E-Journal,ISSN Number: 2009-0420.
  3. ↑ The Cambridge companion to modern Irish culture By Joseph N. Cleary, Claire Connolly
  4. ↑ Dáil debates
  5. ↑ Dáil debates website
  6. ↑ Fitzgerald, K. (2000) Job Scene. Dublin.
  7. ↑ Nursing the western world, The Irish Times, January 2008
  8. ↑ Western People article
  9. ↑ Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines – Swearing in of Hon. Ariel Abadilla as the first Filipino Ambassador to Ireland
  10. ↑ Filipino Forum (The Filipino Voice in Ireland), Vol. 08, No. 25, 2009
  11. ↑ http://www.philembassydublin.ie/
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