50 years of Singapore-Philippines friendship

50 years of Singapore-Philippines friendship
Singapore Ambassador Gerard Ho

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Singapore-Philippines diplomatic relations, the Singapore Embassy in Manila held an evening reception with the theme “50 Years of Singapore-Philippines Friendship” at the Ballroom of Hilton Hotel, Pasay City.

 

Formally opening the event were Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines Gerard Ho, and the guest of honor, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella. In attendance were government officials, the diplomatic and consular corps, media and the business community.

Ambassador Gerard Ho

At the reception, guests were treated to cuisine from across the major ethnic groups in Singapore. They viewed precious photos depicting the last 50 years of Singaporean-Philippine bilateral relations. The event also marked the yearlong commemorative activities organized by the embassy.

 

In his speech, Ambassador Ho highlighted the longstanding relations between the two countries, even before their respective officials formally established ties on May 16, 1969.

Lilia de Lima, Makati Business Club chair Edgar Chua, Philippine Airlines president Jaime Bautista
AmCham Philippines executive director Ebb Hinchliffe, New Zealand Ambassador David Strachan
Alan Chang, Singapore Airlines general manager Lee Yong Tat
Ayala Corp. chair-CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Filinvest Devt. Corp. president-CEO Josephine Gotianun Yap, Ayala Corp. president-COO Fernando Zobel de Ayala, BPI president-CEO Cezar Consing
Thailand Ambassador Vasin Ruangprateepsaeng, Tanzania Consul Betty Chua, Foreign Affairs
Undersecretary Ernesto Abella

In the late 19th century, Singapore was the first port of call for Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal when he left the Philippines for the first time. He visited four more times. The detailed records of his observations became important historical artifacts of 19th-century Singapore.

 

Thrived

 

For the past five decades, the relationship has thrived. The excellent ties are best seen in successful collaborations, such as the Wildlife Loan Agreement between the Wildlife Reserves Singapore and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the refurbishment of the Alkaff Bridge, designed by Pacita Abad and an enduring symbol of the friendship between the two nations, and the joint initiatives of the Singapore Tourism board with Run Rabbit Run and Philippine Airlines.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella, Postmaster General Joel Otarra, Ambassador Gerard Ho
Wang Qi, European Union Ambassador Franz Jessen, Sweden Ambassador Harald Fries, Monaco Consul General Fortune Aleta-Ledesma, France Ambassador Nicolas Galey
Hungary Ambassador Jozsef Bencze, Rita Dy, Vietnam Ambassador Ly Quoc Tuan
Shulamit Harpaz of Israel, Sri Lanka Ambassador Aruni Ranaraja, Mexico Ambassador Gerardo Lozano Arredondo
Apostolic Nunciature First Secretary Msgr. Gabriel Viola, Panama Ambassador Rolando Guevara Alvarado, Israel Ambassador Rafael Harpaz

Ambassador Ho unveiled the official logo and joint commemorative stamp for the 50th anniversary celebration. The official logo was the result of a monthlong design contest organized jointly by the Singapore Embassy in Manila and the Philippine Embassy in Singapore in 2018. The winning entry, designed by freelance graphic designer Renante Tatel Corporal, features a stylized Griffin, a creature that symbolizes strength, courage and intelligence, whose half-lion and half-eagle physique is an amalgam of the countries’ two national animals—the Asiatic lion and the Philippine eagle.

Frances Lim, Russia Ambassador Igor Khovaev
Belgium First Secretary Dr. Koenraad Du Pont, Singapore Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Suli
Chacha Nelson, British Chamber of Commerce Philippines executive chair Chris Nelson
Chris Badiola, Honorary Consul of Gambia Agnes Huibonhoa
Shamaila Aman of Pakistan, Susan Fries of Sweden
Isabel Cojuangco Suntay, Isa Cojuangco Suntay

The joint commemorative stamps, issued by the Singapore Post and the Philippine Postal Corp., depicts the Luzon lacewing butterfly, which represents the Philippines, and Pachliopata aristolochie or the “common rose butterfly,” which represents Singapore. —CONTRIBUTED

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