Just two months into her posting, Ambassador Constance See hosted her first National Day event as Singapore’s top envoy to the Philippines. On Aug. 30, the Fairmont Raffles’ grand ballroom was decked in red and white to celebrate the occasion. 

“Our National Day is not just a time of celebration of our past accomplishments, but also a time to cherish the valuable friendships we made along the way,” declared Ambassador See in her speech, looking vibrant in red. “In the words of my Prime Minister Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, the ‘Singapore Story’ has always been an unlikely one right from the beginning. That is why cooperation, working together with likeminded partners, has always been key for Singapore. In this regard, the Philippines holds a special place in our hearts as a close neighbor and a trusted partner.”

The foundation of this partnership goes way back in 1969, the year the two countries formally established diplomatic relations. Since then, the Philippines and Singapore have enjoyed cordial relations and deep, multi-faceted cooperation. The two nations are also founding members of the ASEAN. Almost a year ago, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. went to Singapore for a state visit. During this time, the shared commitment within the ASEAN and other international fora to uphold peace, stability, and prosperity in the region was reaffirmed. The two countries also signed trade, defense, and labor agreements. The last time Prime Minister Lee was in the Philippines was during the 31st ASEAN Summit in 2017.

DFA undersecretary for bilateral relations and ASEAN affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro represented the Philippines at the event as guest of honor. “Our nations have emerged stronger and more resilient from the ravages of the pandemic,” she said during her speech. “Now, more than ever, our enduring friendship must grow and strengthen in support of our mutual interests for peace, progress, prosperity in the region.”

It was, as always, a particularly well-attended affair. Government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of Singaporean businesses in the country, and the embassy’s friends were present. The Hainanese chicken rice was a hit among the guests along with the bandung, a sweet drink popular in Singapore and its neighboring countries of Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It’s made of evaporated milk mixed with rose syrup, a refreshing summer treat! I also spotted my favorite Singaporean restaurant in Manila, Tiong Bahru, with a booth at the event. Its Valero branch is my go-to for an authentic plate of chicken rice beyond the National Day event.

Funny enough, I absentmindedly dressed in red and white for the event. While it’s considered a nice gesture to dress in a country’s colors during their National Day, I must admit that I do try to avoid it only because I feel that doing so as a diplomatic writer may render me a little too cheesy. But hey, there’s a first for everything.

Denmark in FIBA
Speaking of red and white, Denmark may not have qualified for the recent FIBA games in Asia. The Scandinavian country, however, is still present in every game. This, we learned during a tour of the court inside the Araneta Coliseum on Aug. 27. The wood used for the court is crafted by Danish wood flooring manufacturer Junckers, distributed in the country by Filtra Timber.
The company has signed a long-term agreement with FIBA to serve as global supplier of wood flooring until 2024. I may have minimal knowledge of what goes on during a basketball game, but I have developed an appreciation for good flooring through my extensive experience in apartment hunting during postings. Not one creak was heard during our time on the court. All the wood and care products for the special floors are manufactured in Denmark, using solid traditions of Danish craftsmanship and the quality has been certified for sports, sustainability, and climate. Danish deputy chief of mission to the Philippines Peter Dalberg proudly joined the tour, noting the high quality of Danish craftsmanship.

A visual invitation to explore Korea’s charms
The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC), together with the Korea Tourism Organization Manila Office (KTO), have opened “Mga Kuha sa Korea,” a travel photo exhibit. Running until Sept. 23 at the KCC Building in Taguig, the exhibit is a testament to Korea’s allure.

Aligned with the Visit Korea 2023-2024 initiative, the KCC dedicated August and September to showcase Korea’s beauty to Filipinos. The exhibit offers diverse photography sections, each catering to different interests, from Korea’s changing landscapes across the seasons to a celebration of its cuisine and a glimpse into the 2030 Busan World Expo.

Cinema buffs will enjoy the 2023 Korean Film Festival segment, showing movies with the theme of travel. Through carefully chosen films, viewers will virtually explore Korea’s cities and provinces. The exhibit also features finalists; entries from the “I Was Here: Mga Kuha sa Korea” contest, sharing heartfelt memories from trips to Korea. “Through this exhibit, we hope to be able to bring Korea a bit closer to you,” said KCC director Kim Myeongjin.
As the exhibit promotes accessible travel to Korea, the Korean Embassy has also launched the new Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC) on Aug.14 at the Brittany Hotel in Taguig. They have started allowing walk-in applicants since Aug. 29, making travel to Korea a lot easier. 

“Mga Kuha sa Korea” is the first of KCC’s event lineup for the August-September Visit Korea 2023-2024 campaign. Korea Fiesta is happening from today and tomorrow (Sept. 2 and Sept. 3) and there will be film fests and talk shows promoting their destinations.