GOVPH

PH Consulate General-Shanghai raises curtains on revamped cultural wing and Filipiniana library

SHANGHAI –  The promotion of Philippine culture, arts and languages gained a foothold in China’s financial capital with the inauguration of the Philippine Consulate General’s new Cultural Wing and Filipiniana Library on 04 November 2023.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony presided over by Consul General Josel F. Ignacio with guests of honor DTI Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo and Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime A. FlorCruz marked the venue’s opening.

The Cultural Wing and Library fills renovated space formerly occupied by the main Consular Area and transaction counters, which were transferred to a more spacious location within the Consulate General in November 2022.

It serves as repository of the Consulate General’s rich and ever expanding collection of publications, media and materials on the Philippines, its peoples and rich heritage.

Also on proud display are examples of the Filipino people’s rich heritage, such as folk and indigenous instruments, ethnic accessories and fabrics, and artworks.

All are to be made accessible to the public at appointed hours and with prior coordination with the Consulate General’s Cultural Section.

“This Wing and Library represent a home, a pied-à-terre as it were, for Philippine culture here in Eastern China”, said Consul General Ignacio. “We look forward to receiving Filipinos and foreign visitors to enrich their understanding of the Philippines via our collection and periodic events at this venue.”

The PCG Cultural Wing and Library’s design prominently features and honors Dr. José P. Rizal, whose life and work had been dedicated to the similar ends.

“It is our aspiration to have this venue join the expanding ranks of overseas Sentro Rizal branches housed in other Philippine diplomatic and consular missions”, stressed the Consul General.

The establishment of the Sentro Rizal and its branches was sanctioned under Article XII of Republic Act No. 10066, otherwise known as the “National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009”, signed into law on 25 March 2009. END

Harvest of deals and buyer interest seen for PH brands at China import expo

SHANGHAI – Government and business see another banner year for food and agricultural products at the 6^th China International Import Expo (CIIE) running from 5 to 10 November at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.

First held in 2018, the CIIE is the world’s largest import-focused trade event, and an important platform for the Philippines’ promotion of food and agricultural product exports into China under the “Food Philippines” banner.

At the center of the action is the country’s 160 sqm-plus Food Philippines pavilion and its display and product-tasting kiosks manned by Filipino food industry exhibitors. The pavilion sports the color palette of fresh Philippine durian, on which the spotlight is being trained this year to sustain the momentum of the historic first exports to China this past April.

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting presided led by DTI Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo and other officials touched off a flurry of inquiries and negotiations between Filipino exhibitors and eager Chinese buyers.

Later, Undersecretary Rodolfo, Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime S. FlorCruz, Consul General in Shanghai Josel F. Ignacio and other officials were ceremonially presented copies of purchase agreements for Philippine goods from Dole China, Shanghai Goodfarmer Banana Co. Ltd., and other players. 

Philippine presence in as many CIIE iterations has made the event one of the most fruitful overseas trade events for the country.   In 2021 and 2022, the Philippines netted US$ 597 million and US$ 655 million, respectively, in deals and commitments.

Philippine participation in the CIIE is helmed by the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, and Center for International Trade Exhibitions and Missions, with the support of the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai. END

Consul General accentuates long ties and bountiful prospects with Shanghai in Jiefang interview

SHANGHAI –  Consul General Josel F. Ignacio cast the spotlight on the Philippines’ long-standing and economically rewarding bonds with Shanghai, in a recently featured interview with the Metropolis’ leading broadsheet, Jiefang Daily (解放日报).

Dating back to 1949, Jiefang is the official newspaper of the Shanghai Committee of the Communist Party of China. It is published by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, with a circulation of 700,000 daily, Shanghai’s largest.

During the two-hour interview, Consul General Ignacio underscored the considerable weight exerted by Shanghai in overall Philippine-China relations. “Shanghai, a municipality, accounted last year for 35.11% or USD 12.95B of all Philippine trade with China -- second only to Guangdong, an entire province”, he touted.

The Consul General expects this share to climb even higher under the facilitative environment under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and as the Philippines intensifies exports to – and through – Shanghai. “Shanghai is a huge market”, he highlighted. “But it is also a strategic entry point by air and sea for our products bound for the larger Chinese market, and beyond that, possibly even to Central Asia.”

Consul General Ignacio also impressed upon Jiefang’s readers the Philippines’ early display of confidence in the just-opening China of the 1990s, via companies such as Liwayway China Co. Ltd. (Oishi) and Metrobank China. “Their entry encouraged other foreign MNCs to similarly venture into Shanghai.” 

Over the course of the interview, the Consul General also shared his positive impressions of the city; the vibrant community of talented Filipinos; and the Philippines’ targets for the upcoming 6^th China International Import Expo (CIIE) on 5-10 November 2023.

The interview was preceded by a photoshoot for an accompanying video feature. For the venue, Consul General Ignacio opted for two buildings in the former International Settlement that originally housed the Philippine Consulate General: the Palace Hotel in 1948, and the Hamilton House in 1949.

The feature was part of the paper’s “conversation” series featuring select Consuls General from Shanghai’s 77-misison strong corps of consular missions. Mr. Ignacio became the first Philippine Consul General to be so featured by Jiefang Daily. END