Phnom Penh, 25 June 2024 - Ambassador Flerida Ann Camille P. Mayo welcomed today representatives from the Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), University of the Philippines, De La Salle University, and Cambodian participants in the Scholarship Offerings for ASEAN Researchers (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar) of the DOST-SEI.
While in Phnom Penh, the Philippine delegation led by DOST-SEI interviewed prospective and current scholars in the fields of science and engineering. Since 2017, five Cambodian scholars have obtained Master of Science degrees in mechanical, chemical and environmental engineering while seven others are on track to complete their respective MS thesis.
In line with the goal of promoting ASEAN’s sustainable economic development, the Philippines has approved the implementation of Batch 5 of scholars from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar for the period of 2024 to 2028. END
Phnom Penh, 18 June 2024 – Her Excellency Flerida Ann Camille P. Mayo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Cambodia, presented her credentials to His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia on 17 June 2024 at the Royal Palace.
King Norodom Sihamoni received the Philippine Ambassador and her entourage in a Royal Audience where he immediately extended his best regards to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and congratulations on the occasion of the 126th anniversary of declaration of independence.
His Majesty spoke at length on the overarching goals of peace, stability and development in Cambodia’s ties with the Philippines. The King and the Philippine Ambassador focused their discussions on key priorities of the bilateral relationship, including various areas of cooperation such as education, agriculture, tourism, trade, security and defense and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
Ambassador Mayo took the occasion to put front and center the contributions of Philippine enterprises and thousands of Filipinos working in the Kingdom to Cambodian national development. In particular, she lauded the spirit of volunteerism moving Filipinos in Cambodia to build homes, serve in medical missions, care for rural communities, and run teachers’ camps, among other civic works. She likewise highlighted the work of PH NGOs including in fostering media literacy among Cambodian parents and children as well as the joint efforts of Filipino missionaries and Cambodian monks to uplift lives in the countryside. She affirmed the Embassy’s support for Filipino community initiatives to make friends with the Cambodian people and to make a difference in their lives.
His Majesty offered to the Philippine Ambassador gifts of traditional Cambodian silver craft and publications on his coronation 20 years ago and about the King Father Norodom Sihanouk. Reciprocating the gesture, Ambassador Mayo presented a painting which she had personally commissioned for His Majesty. Entitled “The Ballerinas”, the 2’ x 3’ acrylic on canvas artwork by Filipino artist Shai Lirio pays homage to His Majesty’s love for classical dance which he taught as a professor in France in the 1980s.
Ambassador Mayo is a trained diplomat whose foreign service career spans 42 years. Phnom Penh is her seventh foreign posting. END
PHNOM PENH, 17 June 2024 – Representatives of Filipino communities in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and other Cambodian provinces trooped today to the Philippine Embassy in the Cambodian capital for the annual celebration of Philippine Independence Day.
The event opened with Holy Mass led by Siem Reap-based Jesuit priest, Fr. Totet Banaynal, and his uplifting pastoral message followed by the Independence Day Flag Ceremony covered by The Filipino Channel. Ritual dances performed by the Cordillerans in Cambodia (CIC) and the customary fellowship over almusal lent a festive air to the community event.
In her welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador Flerida Ann Camille P. Mayo reflected on this year’s Independence Day theme around Kalayaan, Kinabukasan, Kasaysayan. “Ang diwa ng tema nitong taon ay maaaring isang mahalang paalala na ang ang pangkasalukuyang kalayaan ay hindi tinitiyak ng ating kinabukasan at dapat lang pangalagaan tulad ng naituro ng nakaraan. We cannot take our present liberties for granted because these are not guaranteed by our future, as our past teaches us. Ang laya mo’y babantayan, Pilipinas kong Mahal,” she said.
The audience listened as well to the recorded messages of the Honorable Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo and His Excellency, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. END
Phnom Penh, 17 June 2024 – In celebration of the 126th Anniversary of the Philippine Independence, the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia treated movie goers to indie films titled “Sino ang Gumawa ng Yoyo, Sino ang Gumawa ng Moon Buggy” (Who invented the Yoyo? Who invented the Moon Buggy?) by the highly-acclaimed National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik on 09 June 2024 and “Kites of Taguri” by the talented Dempster Samarita on 16 June 2024.
In her opening message, Philippine Ambassador Flerida Ann Camille P. Mayo reminded the audience that the country’s talented filmmakers and movie goers have Filipino revolutionary heroes to thank for their present-day liberties. “The fruits of genuine freedom have evolved into a responsibility to honor, respect and safeguard that which our revolutionary heroes bled and died for, including the artistic freedom of our film makers to tell wondrous stories and our unfettered access to their creative vision. Through the powerful medium of indie films, we are given more choices to explore and reflect on our identity, history, values and traditions that make us so proud to belong to a Filipino nation,” she remarked.
"Sino ang Gumawa ng Yoyo, Sino ang Gumawa ng Moonbuggy", is a testament to a National Artist’s visionary storytelling as well as the ingenuity and resilience that typify Filipinos. Kidlat Tahimik’s body of works dives beneath the water’s surface then bring to light the diverse cultures that make up the colorful Filipino nation. As the revered father of Philippine independent films, Tatay Kidlat challenges conventional narratives and infuses the cinematic experience with profound insights on the cultural identity of Filipinos. His lens put into sharp focus the importance of anchoring this and future generations on an authentic Filipino core.
Complementing Tatay Kidlat’s piece, "Taguri: the kites of Sulu" by Dempster Samarita, beautifully captures the essence of community, tradition, and the simple joys that define everyday lives. Samarita's storytelling brings to life the vibrant hues and heartfelt emotions that are intrinsic to the Filipino experience.
The film showing is among the celebratory events spearheaded by the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia to pay homage to the heroes of the Philippine revolution. END
