GOVPH

Salu-Salong Kwento: Storytime with Filipino children in Paris for Food and Literature Month 26 April 2025

In celebration of 2025 Filipino Food Month and National Literature Month, the Philippine Embassy in France held a storytelling event with Kuwento Kultura for Filipino children in Paris on 26 April 2025. A total of 21 kids, accompanied by their respective guardians and parents, attended the activity facilitated by the Philippine Embassy.

Vice Consul Miko Cabatingan opened the storytelling event with Filipino children in Paris, citing the role of the parents in cultivating an appreciation of Filipino culture among the younger generation.  

Ms. Margaret Gener of Kuwento Kultura led the storytelling session with participating children at the Philippine Embassy’s Filipino Food and National Literature Month Celebration. 

Ms. Margaret Gener of Kuwento Kultura Paris led the storytime session with participating children. The activity featured Filipino books Ang Alamat ng Palay by Virgilio Almario, National Artist for Literature, and HaluHalo Espesyal by Yvette Fernandez. Participating children were encouraged to express their views about the moral lessons of the books read, hence further exercising their knowledge and  understanding about Filipino food and literature. 

Participating children from the Filipino Community and kids of Embassy personnel enthusiastically listened and participated in the storytelling event.

Interactive games were also facilitated by Kuwento Kultura to make the event more fun for the kids. To conclude the event, the classic Pinoy pandesal and a variation of Ube pandesal were served among the refreshments. Ube is a purple yam that originated from the Philippines, and has long been a staple in Filipino cuisine, used in a plethora of Filipino desserts. Ube flavored desserts and pastries in France have constantly been receiving considerable positive responses by the locals.

Filipino comics were also displayed during the storytelling event to better familiarize the Filipino children participants in Philippine literature.

The Filipino Food Month celebration has the theme Sarap ng Pagkaing Pilipino: Yaman ng ating Kasaysayan, Kultura, at Pagkatao. With this theme in mind, the activity aims for a further understanding of the vibrance of Philippine heritage to Filipino children in Paris who spent most of their childhood abroad with limited exposure to Philippine culture. Activities like these give a sense of deeper appreciation for Philippine culture among kids.

END. 

PH REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO SDGS, ADVANCING OCEAN SCIENCE, ETHICS OF AI AND GENDER EQUALITY DURING THE 221st SESSION OF THE UNESCO EXECUTIVE BOARD

Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, H.E. Junever M. Mahilum-West in her statement during the plenary session of the 221st session of the UNESCO Executive Board reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and advancing ocean science, ethics of AI and gender equality through support of the following UNESCO programmes: the Flagship Programme on Education for Peace to strengthen the implementation of the 2023 Recommendation on Education for Peace and Human Rights, International Understanding, Cooperation, Fundamental Freedoms, Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development; the AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) following the adoption of UNESCO’s global standard on the Ethics of AI; the UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education and the upcoming MONDIACULT 2025 in Spain which underscore the role of culture as a global public good and as a stand-alone goal in the post-2030 development agenda and; UNESCO initiatives aimed at advancing gender equality in AI development and ensuring the safety, dignity, and rights of women and girls.

 Ambassador Mahilum-West also highlighted the Philippines’ successful hosting of the Regional Conference on Education Planning in Asia-Pacific which brought together education ministries to address urgent challenges such as the climate crisis and the digital divide and looked forward to working with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) in the upcoming 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France and in the 12th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference in 2027 in Manila, Philippines. END

Philippine Embassy in Paris Holds Forum on Seniors’ Concerns: “Aging with Dignity, Planning with Purpose”

Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West welcomed Filipino community leaders and members to a lively forum on issues and concerns of seniors in France.  

Paris, 25 April 2025. Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West and Consul General Noemi Diaz welcomed Filipino community leaders and members to a well-attended forum addressing  concerns pertaining to aging and retirement among Filipinos in France.

In her remarks, the Ambassador drew attention to the physical and psychological demands faced by many Filipino workers in caregiving, housekeeping, and childcare roles. She underscored the national aspiration for overseas work to become a matter of choice rather than necessity, noting that the financial burden of supporting families back home often causes individuals to neglect their own needs. She emphasized the importance of planning ahead with care and dignity.

 

In her introduction, Consul General Noemi Diaz focused on Philippine laws on senior citizens.  A senior citizen means any resident citizen of the Philippines who is at least 60 years of age.  She noted that the laws have evolved to grant more benefits to respond to changing needs and in accordance with available resources. The Expanded Senior Citizens Act increased the monthly social pension and mandated free membership in PhilHealth. 

Labor Attache Attorney Angela Labrado-Trinidad of the Department of Migrant Workers joined the Philippine Embassy to explain the services of the DMW office in Madrid which covers France. She explained DMW’s view that overseas Filipinos, rather than being  relegated to merely recipients of assistance, have a valuable role to play as a precious resource, being breadwinners in the migration cycle. Labatt Labrado-Trinidad presented the reintegration program for returning overseas workers and explained the role of DMW which caters to the whole range of matters related to overseas employment. “Overseas Filipino Worker” is defined as someone employed overseas where she or he is not a permanent resident or citizen.  The concerns of senior citizens are relevant to DMW’s objective to create programs that will fit accordingly.  The National Reintegration Center Office advocates for brain gain, inviting  elderly migrants going back to the Philippines to share expertise and skills honed abroad.
 

Deputy Chief of Mission Eric Gerardo Tamayo summed up the discussions in his concluding remarks.  He noted that the legal frameworks in the Philippines and in France remind us that aging well is not just a personal goal but a societal commitment; that there is a shared hope to age in strength, in dignity and in the company of a caring community.  This shared responsibility is rooted in compassion, and strengthened by information and solidarity. He quoted the French saying “we do not grow old, we mature” and Filipinos say “May ginto sa bibig ng matanda.”  As we look to the future, growing old does not mean growing distant from the life of our nation.  He urged the elderly to remain active and engaged in shaping our country's future, as presently exemplified in overseas voting.

Presentation of Certificates of Appreciation by Deputy Chief of Mission Eric Gerardo Tamayo and Consul General Noemi Diaz:

Ms. Sally Rousset, Moderator, who presented the objectives of each roundtable discussion, presided over the question-and-answer session.
Dr. Luzvimihda Baranger spoke about health concerns in aging and preventive health measures. 
Ms. Nelia Mistruzzi explained the French health system, social services and repatriation services.
Ms. Rosemarie Chazelas presented the French retirement system, programs and  procedures.
Ms. Zita Cabais provided information on common concerns encountered and provided advice on dealing with them.
Prof. Lira de Demo focused on the need for practical financial planning and opportunities.  
Atty. Angela Librado-Trinidad, Labor Attache, Department of Migrant Workers, discussed the  Philippine Reintegration Program for retirement procedures and reintegration.
Ms. Verusckha Ardel Maling, OWWA Officer-in-Charge, Department of Migrant Workers, Madrid gave an overview of OWWA membership benefits, programs, and procedures.

ADVISORY for travellers to Paris, France