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27 July 2022 - The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) Director-General Rowel S. Barba and the French National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO) Director Marie Guittard signed a Philippines-France Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) aimed at promoting agricultural and food geographical indications as an intellectual property that may be utilized to enhance competitive advantage of food and agricultural products, strengthen market position, and contribute to overall economic growth and national development.

(Left-Right: Mr. Alexandre LEVY (INAO), Director Marie Guittard (INAO), Director-General Rowel S. Barba (IPOPHIL) and Director Jesus Antonio Z. Ros (IPOPHIL) sign the PH-FR MOC on Geographic Indications.)

This landmark MOC, signed as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations, will pave the way for increased cooperation in capacity-building and sharing of best practices, among others, with the end in view of facilitating the registration of Philippine and French geographical indications.

 

 

A geographical indication (GI), as defined by the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO), is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that is due to that origin. In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating from a given place. In addition, the qualities, characteristics or reputation of the product should be essentially due to the place of origin. Since the qualities depend on the geographical place of production, there is a clear link between the product and its original place of production. END (Photo Credit: Atty. Kat Rivera)

05 July 2022 - During the ninth session of the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), UNESCO National Commission Deputy Executive Director Lindsay Barrientos acknowledged, with appreciation, the crucial role of the ICH Secretariat in implementing capacity-building projects in the Philippines including, the Disaster Risk Reduction project where local cultural communities collaborated on knowledge-sharing and awareness-raising to strengthen their capacities and to safeguard their living heritage. END

07 July 2022 - During the ninth session of the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Section Head Renee Talavera advocated for further mainstreaming of data-driven and evidence-based approaches in UNESCO’s programs and processes.

“We believe that this crucial aspect can further expand the ability of our living heritage in shaping a prosperous and sustainable future for all people.”

Mindful of the ICH Convention’s limited resources, the Philippines supported the increase of human resources of the ICH Secretariat in order to focus on the monitoring and evaluation aspect of its initiatives. END

Banaag Awardee Ms. Nancy De Jesus (fourth from left) receives a certificate of recognition from Ambassador Junever M. Mahilum-West at the Pista sa Paris

08 July 2022, Paris – The Philippine Embassy in France awarded a Certificate of Recognition to Ms. Nancy De Jesus, 2021 Commission on Filipinos Overseas Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (CFO-PAFIOO) Banaag Awardee, at the Stade de la Muette in Paris during the Pista sa Paris program on 3 July 2022.

Ms. De Jesus was among 56 distinguished and outstanding overseas Filipinos and foreign-based organizations selected from a total of 117 nominations received by the CFO-PAFIOO Secretariat through 39 Philippine Foreign Service Posts across Asia, North, and South America, Europe, and Australia.

The Banaag Awardee was recognized for her invaluable role in sharing her health expertise and promoting the Filipino community’s health and welfare in France during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Her work during the pandemic included translating protocols and health information that were based on official French health guidelines.

Aside from her work related to the pandemic, Ms. De Jesus was also one of the consultants in drafting the World Health Organization’s Global Learning Strategy in 2021, which aims to make lifelong learning in health a genuine force for improving people’s health.

Ms. De Jesus holds a degree in Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Santo Tomas and has since pursued double degrees in post-graduate studies and graduated magna cum laude in 2018 from the Université Sorbonne Paris Cite with a Master’s degree in Science and a Master’s degree in Public Health specializing in Patient Therapeutic Education and Health Education.

In her acceptance speech, Ms De Jesus counseled the audience to not ”mind the 95% who will tell you that achieving one’s goal is not possible; because nothing is impossible here in France. If the Universe is willing, whatever your chosen field may be, there’s no reason why you can’t succeed.”

After awarding, HE Ambassador Junever M. Mahilum-West encouraged the Filipino community to emulate the example of Ms. De Jesus and invited more nominations and awardees from France in 2022.

The Banaag Awardee (left) with Ambassador Junever M. Mahilum-West photographed in-front of the Embassy tent at the Pista sa Paris 

The CFO-PAFIOO is the highest honor given by the Philippine government for the exemplary deeds and philanthropic initiatives of foreign-based individuals and associations that contribute to nation-building and Philippine development, promote the welfare and well-being of Filipinos abroad and bring honor to the country because of their achievements and excellence in their fields or professions.

It has four award categories – Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL), Pamana ng Pilipino, Banaag, and Kaanib ng Bayan.

The Banaag Award received by Ms. De Jesus is conferred on overseas Filipino individuals and organizations for their contributions that have significantly benefited a sector or advanced the cause of overseas Filipino communities.

More information on the 2021 PAFIOO maybe found here:https://www.facebook.com/gawadpangulo/videos/566183064879928 . Photo credit: Jan Levent. END

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