02 October 2024, Stockholm, Sweden - The Philippine Embassy in Stockholm hosted its “Fika sa Embahada” - a quarterly town hall meeting with the Filipino community - on Saturday, 28 September 2024 at the Philippine Embassy. For this meeting the theme was “Bagong Pilipinas: A Call for National Transformation.”
In a message from Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta, read by Consul General Gines Jaime Ricardo D. Gallaga, she apprised the Filipino community of Bagong Pilipinas being a call for transformation under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.. “The transformation of our idea of being a Filipino; the way we present ourselves to each other and to the world; which also involves the transformation of our economy, governance, and society,” she expounded.
Emphasizing the call of President Marcos for every Filipino to do their part in transforming the country, Ambassador Isleta noted the key role the Filipino community in Sweden plays in this transformation, stating that “We are partners in this effort and the positive changes we hope to achieve, and the Embassy and myself will continue to closely work and engage with you towards a Bagong Pilipinas.”
Attendees were also given a primer on Bagong Pilipinas as presented by Consul General Gallaga. In particular, he presented the Embassy’s role in advancing the movement of Bagong Pilipinas in Sweden as it pertains to initiatives in economic diplomacy, consular services, and creating an enabling, inclusive, and participative government. END.
30 August 2024 - H.E. Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta led other ASEAN Ambassadors in a collective call by the ASEAN Committee in Stockholm (ACS) on Mr. Erik Thedéen, Governor of the Riksbank on 29 August 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Mr. Thedéen provided a background on the work of the Riksbank, its monetary plans, and its future programmes and projects. He also shared his views on various topics, including queries and comments by the ACS on Sweden’s “no cash” policy and its effects on tourism, the use of Swedish Krona versus the use of Euro, as well as areas for possible cooperation with ASEAN on a payment system that will impact how Swedish companies do business in the Asia Pacific region.
The ACS is composed of the six (6) embassies of ASEAN member countries in Stockholm, namely: Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The Philippines is the Chair of the ACS for the second half of 2024. END