Sláinte! Irish Embassy celebrates St. Patrick's Day in the Philippines
And they're already showing us how to work and party hard
Published Mar 25, 2023 01:47 pm
Featured image: IRELAND X PHILIPPINE PARTNERSHIP Speaking from Ireland’s experience, MoS Niall Collins TD says education is the key to a country’s progress and eventual success
I can’t believe it’s been a year since the Irish Embassy celebrated its first St. Patrick’s Day in the Philippines. With 40 missions around the world, Ireland’s embassy in Manila—led by Ambassador William Carlos—is one of the newest. It has, however, made great strides in enriching the relationship between Ireland and the Philippines. This week, Irish minister of state Niall Collins TD is in the country as part of his government’s global outreach. Ireland’s ministers are currently visiting their missions all over the world, meeting governments and state agencies, enhancing current relationships, and fostering new links.
“I was sent to the Philippines by our government, because we see it as a high priority to come here,” Collins said. “We now have an embassy opened here, and we’re looking forward to the Philippines reopening its embassy in Ireland, in Dublin, shortly. We see a lot of positives coming out of that. So we wanted to give our ambassador and our embassy team here the recognition for the work they’re doing.”
Collins heads the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science (DFHERIS), which is also responsible for apprenticeships and skills training. One of his stops while in the country is the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). “We’re going to link up TESDA with SOLAS, which is our equivalent agency in Ireland and we’re going to create a channel of communication between them,” Collins said. SOLAS is Ireland’s state agency that oversees its Further Education and Training (FET) sector, where citizens can learn skills that fuel the economy.
FILIPINO SINGERS PLAY IRISH MUSIC Singer-songwriter Armi Millare with the UCC Trad Soc musicians from Ireland
“We have sought to reinforce the message very strongly: University doesn’t have to be the only option you can pursue to further education. Particularly like apprenticeships, they even provide and earn as you learn option,” Collins shared. Skills training in Ireland covers many sectors, from engineering, life sciences, therapy, and more. The Irish government also helps those who finish school or skills training in finding jobs through a centralized portal.
Collins insists that investing in a country’s people by investing in education is the key to a country’s success. “We have the headquarters of Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter. We have 80 percent of the top American pharmaceuticals, 80 percent of the American IT—we have huge foreign direct investments, presence, and infrastructure in our country, and that’s down to the talent we have on offer,” he added. For a while, lower taxes were part of the appeal in investing in Ireland. But even after taxes have levelled within the EU, businesses kept coming and he credits that to their talent pool. “So investment in education just pays back manyfold. It’s the key to a country’s success.”
Celebrating a few days earlier, the national day reception was held on March 14 at the ambassador’s official residence. It was attended by the diplomatic corps and special guests like Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual, Makati Mayor Abby Binay, and former foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario.
GREEN IS IN Papal Nuncio Charles Brown, DFA Usec. Jesus 'Gary' Domingo, MoS Niall Collins TD, Amb. William Carlos, deputy chief of mission Brian McCrohan
DFA undersecretary for civilian security and consular affairs Jesus “Gary” Domingo gave the toast, citing the many similarities between the Philippines and Ireland. “We have both been colonized by other countries yet we have progressed to become young and vibrant democracies, making our respected marks on the global and regional stages today. While we are both predominantly Catholic countries, we are multicultural countries where all religions are embraced and respected, playing vital roles in the societies that we are both proud to make up with our respective republics,” he said. “Diaspora and emigration are both a reality for the Philippines and Ireland. Filipino and Irish diaspora can be found virtually in every corner of the earth, integrated and interwoven in other cultures such as the present United States, Canada, and so on.”
Over plates of Irish beef, potato gratin, salmon, and glasses of Jameson, guests celebrated St. Patrick’s Day well into the evening. Most national day receptions end at nine p.m. but that’s never the case for Ireland. It’s always a party. This year, the embassy also hosted musicians from the University College Cork’s Traditional Music Society who played traditional Irish music for the guests and showcased Irish dance as well.
There are 20,000 Filipinos who call Ireland their home, with most of them belonging in the health sector. Both Collins and Amb. Carlos have said they’re a highly regarded community in Ireland. Our people-to-people relations are filled with opportunities to learn from each other. One of the many things that are noteworthy about the Irish and their diaspora, however, is how they maintain a true sense of national identity and pride despite being thousands of miles away from their homeland.
Looking around as their national anthem played, it was heartwarming to see how the Irish would sing out loud, really taking it to heart. How they introduce themselves with pride, where their family came from, how they keep their traditions—their Irishness—generations down the line, and how they give back to their homeland in many different ways. All these, while being productive and active members of their communities in their adoptive countries. It’s impressive, something everyone in a more globalized world can learn from.
I can’t believe it’s been a year since the Irish Embassy celebrated its first St. Patrick’s Day in the Philippines. With 40 missions around the world, Ireland’s embassy in Manila—led by Ambassador William Carlos—is one of the newest. It has, however, made great strides in enriching the relationship between Ireland and the Philippines. This week, Irish minister of state Niall Collins TD is in the country as part of his government’s global outreach. Ireland’s ministers are currently visiting their missions all over the world, meeting governments and state agencies, enhancing current relationships, and fostering new links.
“I was sent to the Philippines by our government, because we see it as a high priority to come here,” Collins said. “We now have an embassy opened here, and we’re looking forward to the Philippines reopening its embassy in Ireland, in Dublin, shortly. We see a lot of positives coming out of that. So we wanted to give our ambassador and our embassy team here the recognition for the work they’re doing.”
Collins heads the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science (DFHERIS), which is also responsible for apprenticeships and skills training. One of his stops while in the country is the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). “We’re going to link up TESDA with SOLAS, which is our equivalent agency in Ireland and we’re going to create a channel of communication between them,” Collins said. SOLAS is Ireland’s state agency that oversees its Further Education and Training (FET) sector, where citizens can learn skills that fuel the economy.
“We have sought to reinforce the message very strongly: University doesn’t have to be the only option you can pursue to further education. Particularly like apprenticeships, they even provide and earn as you learn option,” Collins shared. Skills training in Ireland covers many sectors, from engineering, life sciences, therapy, and more. The Irish government also helps those who finish school or skills training in finding jobs through a centralized portal.
Collins insists that investing in a country’s people by investing in education is the key to a country’s success. “We have the headquarters of Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter. We have 80 percent of the top American pharmaceuticals, 80 percent of the American IT—we have huge foreign direct investments, presence, and infrastructure in our country, and that’s down to the talent we have on offer,” he added. For a while, lower taxes were part of the appeal in investing in Ireland. But even after taxes have levelled within the EU, businesses kept coming and he credits that to their talent pool. “So investment in education just pays back manyfold. It’s the key to a country’s success.”
Celebrating a few days earlier, the national day reception was held on March 14 at the ambassador’s official residence. It was attended by the diplomatic corps and special guests like Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual, Makati Mayor Abby Binay, and former foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario.
DFA undersecretary for civilian security and consular affairs Jesus “Gary” Domingo gave the toast, citing the many similarities between the Philippines and Ireland. “We have both been colonized by other countries yet we have progressed to become young and vibrant democracies, making our respected marks on the global and regional stages today. While we are both predominantly Catholic countries, we are multicultural countries where all religions are embraced and respected, playing vital roles in the societies that we are both proud to make up with our respective republics,” he said. “Diaspora and emigration are both a reality for the Philippines and Ireland. Filipino and Irish diaspora can be found virtually in every corner of the earth, integrated and interwoven in other cultures such as the present United States, Canada, and so on.”
Over plates of Irish beef, potato gratin, salmon, and glasses of Jameson, guests celebrated St. Patrick’s Day well into the evening. Most national day receptions end at nine p.m. but that’s never the case for Ireland. It’s always a party. This year, the embassy also hosted musicians from the University College Cork’s Traditional Music Society who played traditional Irish music for the guests and showcased Irish dance as well.
There are 20,000 Filipinos who call Ireland their home, with most of them belonging in the health sector. Both Collins and Amb. Carlos have said they’re a highly regarded community in Ireland. Our people-to-people relations are filled with opportunities to learn from each other. One of the many things that are noteworthy about the Irish and their diaspora, however, is how they maintain a true sense of national identity and pride despite being thousands of miles away from their homeland.
Looking around as their national anthem played, it was heartwarming to see how the Irish would sing out loud, really taking it to heart. How they introduce themselves with pride, where their family came from, how they keep their traditions—their Irishness—generations down the line, and how they give back to their homeland in many different ways. All these, while being productive and active members of their communities in their adoptive countries. It’s impressive, something everyone in a more globalized world can learn from.