H.E. Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda.
By Roy Lie A Tjam.
H.E. Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda organized a reception to celebrate his country’s 119th Independence Day Kalayaan on the SS Rotterdam, 23 June 2017.
Ambassador Ledda made the following remarks:
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you for joining us this evening to celebrate the 119th anniversary of the Declaration of the Philippines independence and taking the time to travel to Rotterdam for this occasion.
I would like to acknowledge the presence of Mr Roellof van Ees, the Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for assuring us in the Philippine Embassy that we are not in breach of protocol for holding this national day reception.
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This is not a matter of doing something different but there is an important reason for holding our reception in Rotterdam and here in the SS Rotterdam. Rotterdam is host to thousands of seafarers who call at Europe’s largest and busiest port. It is estimated that one out of every four seafarers in the world is a Filipino. By hosting this year’s reception, I want to highlight the very close maritime cooperation between the Philippines and the Netherlands and the complementarity that has been created from this partnership.
Every year since the year 2000, we hold bilateral consultations; maritime authorities, ship owners and manpower providers and other stakeholders to discuss and exchange information on industry developments, promote contacts and address current issues and concerns such as training and certification compliance, maritime safety and security, promotion and protection of seafarer’s welfare, among others.
As Filipino seafarers make significant contributions to the competitiveness of the Dutch shipping industry, they also make significant contributions to the Philippine economy with their remittances which reached almost US$125 million in 2016.
I would like to take this opportunity to salute the Filipino seafarers for their brave and indomitable spirit and character (to quote the Secretary of Foreign Affairs) who distinguish themselves among the more than 10 million Filipinos living and working abroad. Sadly, they’re not with us tonight but I was able to express my country’s appreciation to some of them, last Sunday, the 28th of June, was incidentally the International Day of the Seafarer.
I would like to acknowledge also Honorary Consuls General Eppo Horlings and Albert Bos of Amsterdam and Rotterdam who have been dedicated in their respective roles to promote the Philippines and their contribution to enhancing this particular aspect of the bilateral relations. I want to thank the very active Filipino community for joining hands with Dutch volunteer groups and foundations in providing support services for the seafarers and various socio-civic causes. The Philippine Embassy happily supports your efforts in promoting invaluable people-to-people relations.
I would also like to sincerely thank my colleagues in the Philippine Embassy who have been very gallant in the performance of their functions from extending consular services, undertaking efforts to promote Philippine cuisine and culture, working together with our ASEAN colleagues to celebrate ASEAN’s 50th Anniversary this year. Thank you for striving to do your best.
Finally, I want to say thank you to all of you in the Dutch government, the diplomatic corps, my colleagues in ASEAN, the private sector and civil society for your immense support and very warm friendship.
