Consular Services Appointment System
Philippine-initiated ASEAN Family Day fosters ASEAN bonds and identity in Shanghai
SHANGHAI, 16 July 2023 – Close to 200 diplomats, staff and family members of the Consulates General of ASEAN Member States gathered for a day of fun fellowship in the first-ever ASEAN Family Day held in Shanghai.
Conceived, organized, and hosted by the Philippine Consulate General, the ASEAN consular missions bonded over shared Southeast Asian cuisine, sports and games, and talent showcases at the sprawling grounds of Philippine speaker systems manufacturer Dai-ichi Electronics Shanghai Co. Ltd. in Jiading District.
Consul General (CG) Josel F. Ignacio led the 30-member Philippine country team which both helmed and took part in the carefully curated program.
The summer heat did little to quell the “ASEAN Way” of bonding and collective recreation. Hearty and energetic participation were displayed by the consular missions of Indonesia led by CG Deny W. Kurnia, Lao PDR led by CG Bouaphat Poutthavong, Malaysia led by CG Syed Farizal Aminy Syed Mohamad, Singapore led by CG Chua Teng Hoe, Thailand led by newly arrived CG Prinat Apirat, and Viet Nam led by CG Nguyen The Tung.
Of eight ASEAN missions in Shanghai, only the mission of Cambodia was unable to attend due to urgent commitments.
Lending their support and participation were the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) and Jiading District FAO represented by Deputy Director Chen Yong Liang and Section Chief Sheng Xiao Wei, respectively.
A ceremonial opening set the program into motion. Loud cheers erupted as flag-waving delegations paraded to music from their respective countries. Keynoting the occasion, CG Ignacio described the occasion as in keeping with “our ASEAN Community’s vision to achieve not only integration, peace, stability and shared prosperity, but also togetherness and common identity”.
The morning program included a guided tour of Dai-ichi’s manufacturing facility and a test of its speaker lines supplied to famous brand names globally, with Dai-ichi Electronics General Manager Lee Mie Yee leading the group.
At the Dai-ichi grounds, meanwhile, shrieks of delight filled the morning air as children and adults alike enjoyed parlor games prepared by the Philippine Consulate General.
Delegations partook thereafter of a lunch buffet featuring a rich spread of dishes and flavors contributed by the participating Missions.
The afternoon saw participants display their athletic prowess in friendly volleyball, table tennis, basketball and badminton matches. Simultaneously, a cooking demonstration took place. The Philippines led a step-by-step preparation of “Pulboron” (Philippine shortbread), while Thailand whipped up fruit salad with fish sauce-lime dressing.
Capping a fun-filled day was a dance competition around the globally popular “Ting Ting Tang” dance craze – itself of Southeast Asian, specifically Vietnamese, provenance. Each Consulate General wowed with their inventive choreographies, with the Thais adjudged winner.
Prizes, medals and trophies were awarded to all winners in the Closing Ceremony. A token of appreciation was presented by Consul General Ignacio to Dai-ichi Electronics, on behalf of all missions present. END
Photo credits:
Roland Adriano/WeChat: roland9312
Nilo K. Palaya
Josel F. Ignacio
Shanghai PCG joins the 2023 National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week Celebration
PWD Accessibility and Rights: Towards A Sustainable Future Where No One Is Left Behind
Aksesibilidad at Karapatan ng mga Taong may Kapansanan: Daan tungo sa Sustenableng Kinabukasan na Walang Maiiwan
ADVISORY: On Overseas Voter Registration
The Resident Election Registration Board (RERB) will hold a meeting on 17 July 2023 (Monday), 9:00 am at the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai for the hearing of the applications of registrants who registered during the period 01 April -30 June 2023 for overseas voting for the 2025 midterm elections.
Please advise the Consulate General should there be any objections against the registration of the following applicants on or before 10 July 2023.
LIST OF APPLICANTS (01 April-30 June 2023)
1. BUALAN, CINDY LUSAY | REGISTRATION |
2. OPEN, RAMELLA ALLO | REGISTRATION |
Shanghai celebrates with the Philippines on 125th Anniversary of Independence
SHANGHAI, 16 June 2023 – Government and business VIPs from Shanghai and surrounding provinces toasted to the Philippines’ gains and continued success at the 125th Independence Day Diplomatic Reception hosted by the Philippine Consulate General on 16 June.
Leading the roster of over 250 guests trooping to The Portman Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Jing’an District was Shanghai Vice Mayor Li Zheng, who took the stage with Consul General Josel F. Ignacio to honor the occasion.
Adding luster to the occasion was the participation of the most important and prestigious Municipal bodies. The Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress was represented by Deputy Director Lin Haiping (in charge of Overseas Chinese, Ethnic and Religious Affairs); the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) by Deputy Director for Culture, Health and Sports Xiao Zeping; and the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) by Deputy Director General Bei Zhaojian.
Consul General Ignacio opened the reception with a well-received speech that concluded with a hearty toast to the Philippines and its ties with host country China. He also paid tribute to four decades of sister city ties between Metropolitan Manila and Shanghai, the anniversary of which fell on the previous day, 15 June.
A cake-cutting ceremony led by the Consul General and Vice Mayor Li ushered in the more festive segment of the program.
Guests whipped out their phone cameras as they enjoyed a high-energy performance of Bacolod’s famous Masskara dance led by Filipinos from the Pinoy Teachers’ Association in Shanghai (PITAS).
As looped videos of Philippine tourism destinations played, guests treated themselves generously to a buffet of delectable Filipino dishes such as adobo, kinilaw, crispy pata, lumpia, guinataang hipon, and pansit guisado, paired with desserts such as halo-halo, leche flan and pandan-mango rolls.
The bar showcasing Filipino fruit beverages as well as famous alcoholic drinks was busy throughout the event. San Miguel Beer and expertly mixed Tanduay Rum- and Boracay Rum Coconut-based cocktails earned rave reviews.
Representatives of the FAOs of Provinces covered by the Consulate General also traveled to Shanghai for the event. Hubei was represented by FAO Director General Zhang Xiaomei.
Attesting to the Philippines’ motto of being a “friend to all”, the Shanghai consular corps turned up in full force, the majority represented by no less than their respective Consuls General.
Not to be outdone were executives and representatives of several Chinese enterprises with investments or operations in the Philippines, whose presence attested to the intensity of the country’s economic engagement with Shanghai and the surrounding Yangtze River Delta Region
Also putting the country’s best foot forward were the leaders of Filipino community organizations, and executives of Filipino companies with operations or commercial presence in Eastern China. Among the enterprises represented were Liwayway China Co. Ltd., Dai-ichi Electronics Manufacturing Corp., Metrobank, ASPAC Land Development Shanghai Co. Ltd.
In a show of Filipino hospitality, departing guests were delighted to receive generous goody bags of Philippine brands such as Century Tuna, Pongpong Banana Chips, DOLE dried mangoes, Bebebalm skin products, and snacks from Oishi (Liwayway China Co. Ltd.). Rounding off the “loot” were PAL aircraft models and DOT tourism promotion flyers.
It was the first full diplomatic reception by the Consulate General in Shanghai in over a decade. In June 2021, with COVID-19 restrictions still in place, then newly arrived Consul General Ignacio hosted a limited Independence Day reception at the Parkyard Hotel in Pudong. In 2022, the Shanghai lockdown in Spring and remaining restrictions ruled out large-scale gatherings.
The diplomatic reception comes on the heels of a solemn outdoor flag-raising ceremony held on June 12 itself by the Consulate General held by its chancery in Changning District. END