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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. 

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.

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

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. 
 

 

 

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