GOVPH

Les Philippines au Havre: PH Ambassador visits SciencesPo Le Havre Campus for PH-FR Lecture

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.

END. 
 

Usapang AgriBiz in Paris: DA & PH Embassy hold agricultural investment forum with OFs in France

29 March 2025. The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Office of the Agriculture Attaché to the European Union, in collaboration with the Philippine Embassy in  Paris, held a forum to promote agribusiness opportunities for Filipinos in France on 29 March 2024 at the Franco-American Church. 
 

Attendees thanked DA and Embassy representatives for the Usapang AgriBiz Forum with the delegation from the Department of Agriculture.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d'affaires ad interim Eric Gerardo Tamayo stressed the importance of agriculture towards ensuring food security, poverty reduction in rural areas, environmental sustainability, and even its cultural significance. He also encouraged the forum attendees to take the opportunity to pave the way to attaining individual financial goals.  

CDA Eric Gerardo Tamayo delivers his opening  remarks.

Among the topics discussed were emerging commodities in the field of agriculture, priority agri-fishery commodities, high-value crops including ube which has a growing market in Europe, native animal raising, capacity-building programs for future entrepreneurs, and access to agricultural financing instruments. 

Director Junibert E. De Sagun sharing insights on business opportunities in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry.

The DA delegation was led by Director for Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service Junibert E. De Sagun. He is joined by Engr. Anne Glyn F. Lisbo, Ms. Luzviminda F. Tolentino, Engr. Remelyn R. Recoter, Mr. Celedonio P. Pereyra, and Rene C. Santiago.

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CDA Tamayo presenting the Certificate of Appreciation to the facilitators of the forum.

This forum marks the final activity of the 2025 National Women’s Month celebration of the Philippine Embassy in Paris.
 
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Notice of Final Lockdown and Sealing

PH Embassy Holds Security Awareness Training

20 March 2025.The Philippine Embassy in Paris held a Safety and Security Training for personnel with Police Attaché Colonel Rodolfo Castro, Jr. as resource person,  as part of the month-long celebration of 2025 National Women’s Month.

During her opening remarks, Ambassador Junever M. Mahilum-West lauded said training session for the  valuable opportunity it offers to refresh minds and update strategies for personal safety, especially against gender-based violence and harassment. The Ambassador encouraged everyone to continue to empower one another, while prioritizing safety and well-being.

Colonel Rodolfo Castro Jr., Police Attaché, shared his vast knowledge and expertise in the field of safety and security to equip Embassy personnel with the essential tools to effectively enhance security awareness. Various techniques and practices to sustain vigilance and to prepare for different situations — at work, at home, or traveling — were discussed. 

This learning engagement is part of the Embassy’s series of programs for Women’s Month. By holistically responding to personnel needs, the Embassy aims to enable them to deliver services to the public effectively and efficiently while being gender-sensitive.

Ambassador Junever M. Mahilum-West delivers her opening remarks

Police Attaché Rodolfo Castro, Jr. shares his expertise in the field of safety and security 
Police Attaché Rodolfo Castro, Jr. with the personnel of the Philippine Embassy in Paris