Embassy of the Philippines, Manama
Pasuguan ng Pilipinas sa Manama
سفارة الفلبين في المنامة
LocationManama
AddressBuilding 2186, Road 2755, Block 327, Adliya
Coordinates26°13′02″N 50°34′51″E / 26.21722°N 50.58083°E / 26.21722; 50.58083
AmbassadorAnne Jalando-on Louis
Websitemanamape.dfa.gov.ph

The Embassy of the Philippines in Manama is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Bahrain. Opened in 1992, it is located in the Adliya neighborhood of central Manama, near the Salmaniya Medical Complex.

History

Although the Philippines and Bahrain established diplomatic relations on November 27, 1978, a resident embassy in the country was not established until much later, with diplomatic relations initially being conducted through the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh.[1]

A resident mission in Bahrain was only opened during the presidency of Corazon Aquino, when the Embassy was formally opened on April 14, 1992.[1] Leonides T. Caday, who would later be known as a target in the 2000 bombing of the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta,[2] served as the mission's first resident ambassador.[1]

Building

The chancery of the Philippine Embassy in Manama is currently located in a four-villa compound in the Adliya neighborhood, which it relocated to on January 1, 2023.[3]

Located about one km (0.6 mi) north of the previous chancery, which was situated in the nearby Bu Ghazal neighborhood,[4] the new chancery was inaugurated on January 2, 2023, with its doors opening to the public the following day.[3] A more formal inauguration attended by both Philippine and Bahraini officials, as well as the heads of the other resident Southeast Asian embassies in Manama and members of the local community, was later held on March 19, 2023, part of a number of celebrations leading to the 45th anniversary of Bahrain–Philippines relations.[5]

In contrast to the previous chancery, the new chancery contains a larger floor area which can accommodate the Embassy's various offices,[3] with the consular section also containing a separate lactation room,[5] as well as the Bahrain offices of various Philippine government agencies that cater to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), such as the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Social Security System.[3] A separate two-story villa within the compound also houses the Manama center of the Sentro Rizal, including a meeting hall and library, with the space decorated with artwork and poetry created by Bahrain-based Filipino artists and writers.[5]

Staff and activities

The Philippine Embassy in Manama is headed by the Philippine ambassador to Bahrain, Anne Jalando-on Louis.

Louis, a career diplomat who previously served as Consul General at the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney,[6] arrived in Manama on April 19, 2022 to serve as the mission's chargée d'affaires,[7] and was subsequently appointed by President Bongbong Marcos as Ambassador on November 2, 2022.[8] Her appointment was then confirmed by the Commission on Appointments on December 7, 2022,[9] and she presented her credentials to King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on May 2, 2023.[10]

The Embassy's activities center around providing to the welfare of the more than 40,000 Filipinos in Bahrain, many of whom are OFWs. These have included facilitating repatriations, with over 200 Filipinos being repatriated from Bahrain in 2021,[11] and facilitating the regularization of Filipinos staying in the country illegally.[12] The Embassy is also active in organizing a number of cultural and economic activities, such as organizing a Philippine festival at a local mall,[13] holding an art exhibition featuring art by Bahrain-based Filipino artists,[14] and collaborating with Carrefour to promote Philippine food products.[15]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Chancery, History of Post". Embassy of the Philippines, Manama. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Indonesia Car Bomb Kills Two, Injures Philippine Ambassador". The Wall Street Journal. August 2, 2000. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "New Philippine Chancery in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, Opens its Doors to the Public on 03 January 2023" (Press release). Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. January 6, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  4. ↑ "LOCATION AND MAP OF THE NEW ADDRESS OF THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Manama. December 28, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "DFA Undersecretary for Administration Morales Inaugurates New PH Chancery in Bahrain" (Press release). Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  6. ↑ Cerda, Jovan (February 5, 2013). "Pinoy-Aussie team wows crowd in int'l rugby tilt". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  7. ↑ "NEW HEAD OF MISSION OF PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN MANAMA GRACES EVENT OF PHILIPPINE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION-BAHRAIN" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Manama. April 25, 2022. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  8. ↑ ACTION: CONFIRMED – Ad Interim / Nomination – From: June 30, 2022 To: December 19, 2022 (PDF) (Report). Commission on Appointments. p. 7. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  9. ↑ Galvez, Daphne (December 7, 2022). "CA OKs appointment of Gloria Arroyo's daughter, ex-DFA chief Locsin as envoys". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  10. ↑ "PH Ambassador to Bahrain Presents Credentials to His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa" (Press release). Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. May 4, 2023. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  11. ↑ "58 Filipinos repatriated from Bahrain — DFA". The Philippine Star. November 2, 2021. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  12. ↑ Mabasa, Roy (October 14, 2018). "Gov't to aid Filipinos in Bahrain with visa issues". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on October 14, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  13. ↑ "PH Embassy in Manama Kicks Off Celebration of 45th Anniversary of the Establishment of PH-Bahrain Diplomatic Relations This Year with a 3-Day Festival" (Press release). Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. February 3, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  14. ↑ "PH Embassy Co-Organizes Art Exhibit Highlighting Philippines-Bahrain Partnership" (Press release). Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. February 1, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  15. ↑ "PH Embassy Collaborates with Carrefour on "Pinoy Market" Featuring PH Products at Oasis Mall in Juffair, Bahrain" (Press release). Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. January 30, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
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