GOVPH

PH Ambassador Thanks Happy Hearts Czech for Rebuilding Primary School in Cagayan, Philippines

Ambassador Ombra T. Jainal joined friends and donors of Happy Hearts Czech in a Charity Cocktail at Hotel Carlo IV on 23 January 2020 to raise funds to rebuild safe and resilient schools in areas affected by natural disasters.

Ms. Karolina Bosakova, Director of Happy Hearts Czech, stated that the organization intends to rebuild a primary school in Cagayan province (north of the Philippines) which was affected by Typhoon Mangkhut in September 2018. Funds raised will be utilized to rebuild seven classrooms and refurbish four standing classrooms and toilet blocks in the school which accommodates 170 students, aged 6 to 12 years old.

Happy Hearts Czech is a partner of the American All Hands and Hearts – Smart Response organization.

PH Ambassador Participates in the 17th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee in Prague

Ambassador Ombra T. Jainal participated in the 17^th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee in Prague at the Residence of the Thai Ambassador in Prague on 23 January 2020.

The meeting discussed the accomplishments of the ACP during the last semester and the joint activities for 2020. The Ambassadors from the six member states also exchanged views on the political and economic developments in the Czech Republic, and how to strengthen the relations of ASEAN and the host country. 

The 17^th ACP concluded the Thai Chairmanship and turned it over to Indonesia for the period January to June 2020.

(From L to R) Ambassador Ombra T. Jainal (Philippines) joins Ambassador Zanariah Zainal Abidin (Malaysia), Ambassador Kenssy  Dwi Ekaningsih (Indonesia), Ambassador Ureerat Chareontoh (Thailand), Ambassador Kay Thi Soe (Myanmar), and Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Tran Thangh Huong (Vietnam)

Ambassador Kenssy Dwi Ekaningsih (Indonesia) and Ambassador Ureerat Chareontoh (Thailand) sign the Handover Document transferring the chairmanship of the ASEAN Committee in Prague to Indonesia. ASEAN Ambassadors of Malaysia, the Philippines and Myanmar, and CDA of Vietnam witness the signing ceremony at the Thai Residence on 23 January 2020.

PH EMBASSY SUPPORTS SINULOG IN PRAGUE 2020

Ambassador Ombra T. Jainal led the Philippine Embassy in joining the Filipino community in celebrating Sinulog in Prague at the Church of St. Thomas on 19 January 2020.

In his brief speech, the Ambassador thanked the Filipino community in keeping the Filipino tradition and culture alive, and that regardless of distance, their faith in God and community remains true and strong.

The Sinulog is an annual cultural and religious feast of the Catholic community held every third Sunday of January in the Philippines. The dance ritual is in honor of the Child Jesus or Santo Nino, whose image was a baptismal gift to Reyna Hara Amihan, the wife of Raha Humabon, of Sugbu (now Cebu) in 1521.

Along with the Filipino diaspora, the Sinulog is continuously celebrated in cities with a large number of Filipinos. In Prague, Filipinos from Italy and Austria joined the growing number of Filipinos in the Czech Republic to celebrate the feast.  

Rev. Fr. Imman Noel Abellana, OSA, together with Rev. Fr. Juan Provecho, OSA and Rev. Fr. William Faix, OSA, celebrates the Sinulog Mass at the Church of St. Thomas in Prague. Later, all of them joined in the dance ritual in honor of the Child Jesus. (photo credit: Filipino Catholic Community of Prague 

Members of the Filipino community in Prague dance at the Sinulog Festival 2020 at the Church of St. Thomas in Prague on 19 January 2020. (photo credit: Filipino Catholic Community of Prague)

The Philippine Embassy Officers and Staff and the Filipino community at the Sinulog Festival at the Church of St. Thomas in Prague on 19 January 2020. (photo credit: Filipino Catholic Community of Prague)

PH AMBASSADOR JOINS ASEAN AMBASSADORS IN PRESENTING THE REGION AS AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS IN PRAGUE

Philippine Ambassador Ombra T. Jainal presents the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Pillar to students and officials of the University of Economics in Prague at a Lecture entitled “ASEAN’s Economic Powerhouse in a Changing Global Order” on 03 December 2019.

Philippine Ambassador Ombra T. Jainal joined the Ambassadors of Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar and the Deputy Heads of Mission of Thailand and Vietnam at a lecture entitled “ASEAN as an Economic Powerhouse amidst Strategic Power Balance and Diversity” at the University of Economics, Prague on 03 December 2019.

Ambassador Jainal presented updates on the third pillar of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Community, the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, highlighting the diverse but united peoples and growing economies of the ASEAN.

Malaysian Ambassador Zanariah Bt Zainal Abidin presented the structure of the ASEAN Political – Security Community and provided updates on the issues and challenges that the ASEAN is currently addressing. Indonesian Ambassador Kenssy Dwi Ekaningsih provided the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific region and ASEAN’s response to its dynamics.

In presenting the second pillar – the ASEAN Economic Community - Vietnamese Deputy Head of MissionTran Thangh Huong stressed the growing skilled labor and expanding domestic market of the region that makes ASEAN as a major hub of manufacturing and trade and Myanmar’s Ambassador Kay Thi Soe highlighted ASEAN’s economic partnerships with dialogue partners and the European Union.

Thai Deputy Head of Mission Nattanipa Burusapat presented an overview of the ASEAN as an organization and achievements of Thailand’s Chairmanship in 2019.

The ASEAN Lecture is one of the many projects of the ASEAN Committee in Prague to raise awareness about the regional grouping and advance its interests in the Czech Republic. END.

Ambassador Ombra T. Jainal (middle) flanked by Ambassador Zanariah Bt Zainal Abidin of Malaysia (left) and Ambassador Kenssy Dwi Ekaningsih of Indonesia (right) at the University of Economics in Prague on 03 December 2019

Professor Dr. Tomas Petru, moderator of the lecture, presents the speakers (from left to right): Ambassador Kay Thi Soe (Myanmar), Ambassador Zanariah Bt Zainal Abidin (Malaysia), Ambassador Kenssy Dwi Ekaningsih (Indonesia), Ambassador Ombra T. Jainal (Philippines), Deputy Chief of Mission Nattanipa Burusapat (Thailand), and Deputy Chief of Mission Tran Thangh Huong (Vitenam).

ASEAN Ambassadors joined by some of the students and faculty after the lecture at the University of Economics in Prague on 03 December 2019.