11 April 2025. L’Institut des Sciences Politiques (SciencesPo) Le Havre Campus invited the Philippine Ambassador to France, H.E. Junever Mahilum-West, on 11 April 2025 to deliver a lecture on the overview of Philippines-France relations and the role of the Philippines in Global Diplomacy. SciencesPo is France’s leading academic institution in the field of social sciences. The Philippine Embassy in Paris maintains a donation agreement with SciencesPo Paris to promote a Philippine Studies program.
More than 50 students participated in an interactive discussion with the Ambassador to explore key aspects of PH foreign policy.
Ambassador Mahilum-West opened by discussing early encounters between France and the Philippines from the symbolic beginning of their historical ties during the age of exploration, the inspiration of Filipino intellectuals by French ideals and to the development of formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and France established in 1947.
Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West proceeds with her lecture by touching on the following topics: Economic and Development Cooperation, Defense, Space, and Oceanic Collaboration, Cultural Diplomacy and Academic Exchange, Mobility, Tourism, and the Filipino Community, Maritime Identity and Multilateral Engagement.
The lecture also highlighted a robust political and economic relations with 14 bilateral agreements that encompass maritime law, cultural cooperation, social security, air services, and science and technology. Around 970 French-affiliated companies operate in the country, in sectors ranging from transport and energy to finance and digital services. Bilateral trade reached USD 1.5 billion in 2024, and France ranked as the 11th largest source of foreign investments in the Philippines.
Lecture and Discussion led by Ambassador Mahilum-West was also attended by SciencesPo Le Havre’s Campus Director, M. Hauchecorne.
Ambassador Mahilum-West briefed the audience on the flourishing academic and cultural exchange between the two countries. In 2023, the Philippine Embassy signed a donation agreement with SciencesPo Paris to support Philippine Studies promotion. Filipino scholars also conducted lectures at both Paris and Le Havre campuses of SciencesPo.
Q&A after the Lecture and Discussion by Ambassador Mahilum-West was facilitated by the officers of Havrais Dire
The lecture and discussion were followed by a question and answer portion facilitated by the officers of Havrais Dire, one of four permanent Student Councils at SciencesPo Le Havre. It entrusts itself with the mission to promote academic, cultural, and pre-professional development, through hosting conferences featuring distinguished guests and overseeing other subsidiary student organizations.
The Philippine Embassy in Paris’ Cultural Section, together with Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West and Le Dragon Déchaîné, SciencesPo’s Newsletter Team, and some officers of Havrais Dire.
Joining the Philippine Ambassador are the Embassy’s Cultural Section led by Vice Consul Miko Cabatingan along with Ms. Patricia Alexandra Gawaran. The said event was the first partnership event of the Embassy’s Cultural Section with the Le Havre Campus aimed towards promoting increased academic exchanges between Philippine and French institutions, and further igniting interest in Philippine studies program.
Ambassador Mahilum-West having fruitful post-lecture exchanges with Filipino members of the SciencesPo Le Havre academia, visiting lecturer El Cid Butuyan, Director and Chief Ethics Officer in UNICEF in United Nations New York and student Ms. Chiara De La Cruz.
The learning engagement was attended by Asia-Pacific Studies students which included Ms. Franzcesca Chiara De La Cruz, the sole Filipino student in the Le Havre Campus taking a dual bachelor’s degree with University British Columbia. Students also showed an appreciation and interest of the Filipino language as they expressed willingness to study Filipino.
Director Michaël Hauchecorne of SciencesPo Le Havre and Professor El Cid Butuyan, a visiting lecturer specializing in International Organizations and Transnational Actors: Mechanisms for Responsibility, Accountability and Anticorruption, and also participated in the said lecture.
Le Dragon Déchaîné’s team conducting the interview with Ambassador Junever M. Mahilum-West.
The lecture was followed with an interview by Le Dragon Déchaîné, SciencesPo Le Havre’s Newsletter with Ambassador Mahilum-West on her insights and advice on how to encourage more students to study, foster cultural and intellectual engagement on Asia Pacific-EU relations and Philippines-France partnership as well as the current and ongoing projects between the two countries that should be highlighted.
Ambassador Junever M. Mahilum-West and Vice Consul Miko Cabatingan on the turn-over of the Philippine books for display and browsing on SciencesPo Le Havre’s Campus library.
The Philippine Embassy also donated historical Philippine books to SciencesPo Le Havre’s library and envisioned a Filipiniana Section. Books donated include copies of Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Commemorative Book on the 75th Anniversary of Philippines-France Relations, Philippines-France: Discovery and Rediscovery, The Frontiers of Foreign Policy, Helene Goujat’s Reforme Ou Revolution? Le projet national de Jose Rizal (1861-1896) pour les Philippines, Philippine Chronicles: A Quintessential Celebration, and Discovering Dayaw: Our Knowledge, Our Pride.
Asian Studies students welcome the Filipiniana book collection from the Philippine Embassy in addition to Science Po Le Havre’s learning resources.
The Philippine Embassy in Paris remains committed to promoting deeper academic connections between PH and France, whether through policy, research, or friendship.
Photo Credits: Le Dragon Déchaîné, Havrais Dire, and the Philippine Embassy.
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