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Filipino Community Day Held at the Museum of Migration in Brussels

The Filipino Community Day, 08 February 2025, of the Archipelago Abroad: Stories of the Philippine Diaspora in Belgium exhibition at the MigratieMuseumMigration was an afternoon of music, Filipino food, and storytelling.

Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General Pablito A. Mendoza congratulated the Philippine Arts and Culture Exchange (PACE), the organizers of Archipelago Abroad, for the excellent publicity that the exhibition created and for creating a space where Filipinos in Belgium could tell and be proud of their stories.

The audience viewed a series of audiovisual interviews conducted by PACE with several members of the Filipino diaspora in Belgium. The interviewees — which included a retired nurse, an adoptee, and a business owner, among others — talked about how they came and why they stayed in Belgium, the challenges they faced, and their love for both the Philippines and Belgium.

Closing the program were heartfelt and joyful musical numbers rendered by Mylene Factora and sons Diego, Gabriel and Andres; Naomi Mababa; and Joni Sheila.

Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General Pablito A. Mendoza gives remarks during the Filipino Community Day at the Archipelago Abroad: Stories of the Philippine Diaspora in Belgium, Museum of Migration, Brussels, 08 February 2025.

The audience members view a series of interviews during the Filipino Community Day, Brussels, 08 February 2025.

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ASEAN Brussels Committee holds its first meeting under the Philippine Chairmanship

On 22 January 2025, the ASEAN Brussels Committee (ABC) held its first meeting for 2025 under the Philippine Chairmanship. During the meeting, the Ambassadors discussed activities and projects under the Philippines’ chairmanship from January to June 2025 and exchanged views on developments in ASEAN Member States’ respective bilateral relations with Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU.

In accordance with Article 43 of the ASEAN Charter, the ASEAN Brussels Committee was established to promote ASEAN’s interests and identity in Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union.

The ASEAN Brussels Committee is currently composed of the following Ambassadors accredited to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU: H.E. Mr. Adnan Ja’afar Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam; Mrs. Raad Chhoun Sreynou, Chargé d’affaires, a.i. of Cambodia; H.E. Mr. Andri Hadi, Ambassador of Indonesia; H.E. Mr. Kingphokeo Phommahaxay, Ambassador of Lao PDR; H.E. Mr. Dato’ Mohd Khalid Abbasi Bin Abdul Razak, Ambassador of Malaysia; H.E. Mr. Soe Lynn Han, Ambassador of Myanmar; H.E. Mr. Lim Hong Huai, Ambassador of Singapore; H.E. Mrs. Kanchana Patarachoke, Ambassador of Thailand; H.E. Mr. Nguyen Van Thao, Ambassador of Viet Nam; and H.E. Mr. Jorge Trindade Neves de Camoes, Ambassador of Timor-Leste.

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H.E. Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda gives a lecture on Philippine Ports Network at the Antwerp School of Management (AMS)

On 14 January 2025, at the invitation of the Antwerp Management School, Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda appeared as a guest lecturer at the Ports Economics and Business course for the school’s Master of Transport Management Program. Thirty-five (35) international students from Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East attended the Ambassador’s lecture.

Ambassador Ledda spoke on Philippine ports development, particularly the recent reforms being undertaken to enhance private sector participation in modernizing and expanding the country’s ports network. He also took the opportunity to talk about tourism development and renewable energy infrastructure in relation to the ports network, as well as the Philippines’ commitment to a rules-based order in the regional and global maritime space.

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