PHILIPPINE EMBASSY, STOCKHOLM KICKS OFF CELEBRATIONS OF 60^TH ANNIVERSARY OF RP-SWEDEN DIPLOMATIC TIES

24 January 2007 – Philippine Ambassador to Sweden Victoria S. Bataclan reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Embassy in Stockholm launched the celebration of 60 years of Philippine-Sweden Diplomatic Relations in January 2007 with the signing of a new cooperation agreement, a painting exhibition, and a Filipino-Swedish Catholic Mass.

On 22 January 2006, Ambassador Bataclan witnessed the signing of a new cooperation project on friendship and democracy building between the sister-cities of Enköping in Sweden and Sta. Rosa in the Philippines. The Swedish Government gave a grant of SEK 700,000 (US$100,438) for the project that will begin in 2007.

The 11-man delegation from the municipality of Santa Rosa headed by Mayor Arlene C. Arcillas arrived in Sweden on 22 January 2007 as part of its inter-local cooperation with the Kommun of Enköping. The Swedish party included Enköping Mayor Anna Wiklund, Deputy Mayor Ake Heden, CEO Asa Byman Falck, and Project Officer Stafan Viberg. The two municipalities began their cooperation with a Clean Water project in 2003 designed to transfer the knowledge, expertise and experience of Sweden in cleaning polluted water in an environmentally safe and economical way.

Earlier in Jönköpping, a painting exhibition entitled “En los Bosques... From Tuguegarao to Jönköpping: Paintings by Mario de Rivera” was held from 8 – 21 January 2007 at the Jönköpping State Library and Museum. The event was organized by the Philippine Embassy in Stockholm through the Swedish-Filipino Friendship Association in Jönköpping in cooperation with the Jönköpping State Library and Museum.

During the opening of the exhibit, Jönköpping’s Department of Culture Head Claes Rydberg remarked, “if de Rivera's paintings were indicative of the Philippine contemporary art scene, then it must be rich and vibrant indeed.”

Also present at the exhibition was Swedish-Filipino Friendship Association in Jönköpping Chairperson Jenalyn Sonnerhed and Philippine Embassy representative, First Secretary and Consul Marian Tirol-lgnacio.

On 14 January 2007, a Catholic Mass dedicated to the 60 years of RP-Sweden Diplomatic Relations was held at Stockholm’s St. Eugenia Catholic Church in Kungsträdgården, the church were many Sweden-based Filipinos and other Catholic expatriates regularly congregate. Gifts and prayers presented by Filipinos and Swedes led by Ambassador Bataclan were offered during the Mass celebrated by Filipino priest Fr. Gabriel Baldostano and St. Eugenia parish priest Fr. Francisco Herrera. The Mass was organized by the Philippine Embassy in Stockholm in cooperation with the Stockholm Pastoral Council and the Couples for Christ-Stockholm. A reception followed the Mass to gather Filipino Catholics, their Swedish families and friends.  END

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