By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman
EU and PHL: Reviving old ties
HE EATS lechon (roast pig) with gusto. She likes “lapu-lapu (local sea bass) and all other kinds of seafood.” European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Philippines Guy Ledoux and his wife Margaret have only been in the country for over four years but they felt they have known it for a long time.
When not busy over work, they travel outside Metro Manila to escape the hustle and bustle. Off they go exploring more of the country’s 7,000-plus islands. So far, they have visited the provinces or regions of Davao, Iloilo, Cordillera, and Palawan. Ms. Ledoux said she likes diving in Coron, Palawan, and Anilao, Batangas.
With this country’s historic ties with Europe (if via colonialism), Filipinos share not a few interests with European Union countries. A passion for great food is one, and here we reaffirm our ties with Spain. Madrid Fusion, Spain’s biggest gastronomical gathering, made its Manila debut last month, reviving -- especially flavor-wise -- the kinship between España y Filipinas.
But in contemporary Philippines, Europeans, including the Spanish, are not among the country’s most frequent visitors. Yet the numbers are still significant. Data by the Department of Tourism showed there were 55,047 visitor arrivals from Europe last March alone. The European Union, for its part, is also bridging the gap with the Philippines -- among other things, lifting the ban on two local airlines to travel to Europe.
The EU-Philippine partnership is a world of inspiring opportunities ready for the taking, and this was highlighted by the celebration here of Europe Day on May 9.
Europe Day is the annual celebration of peace and unity in Europe, in commemoration (the 65th this year) of the Schuman Declaration of May 9, 1950, which led to what became the EU. Mr. Ledoux headed Europe Day’s celebration here with the theme, “We Inspire Each Other.”
“The Philippines is an inspiring place to be,” Mr. Ledoux said in the Europe Day celebration at Sofitel Manila. “The EU leaders have noticed the improvement of the economy, with 6.7% growth rate. The Philippines has made tremendous progress in the last three to four years in terms of competitiveness and reduction of corruption. If we continue on the same line in the coming years, maintaining its 6.7% growth, it can double in the next 10 years. We learn a lot about the Philippines’ strong working capacity. We have many examples of mutual inspirations.”
PINOY PRODUCTS
Lechon was included in the celebration’s menu. Europeans loved it so much it was finished just minutes after the buffet opened. In our interview, Mr. Ledoux said lechonis a must-try among foreigners. Although this may not be recommended aspasalubong (gift), there are still over 6,000 categories of Philippine products now ready for export without tariffs. The Philippines is a beneficiary of trade preferences granted by the EU under the standard Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) signed last December. The Philippines is the first member-state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to join the GSP. Mr. Ledoux said our trade is worth 12 billion Euros. Coffee, tropical-fruit juices like mango, pineapple, and coconut, as well as textiles, footwear, garments, jewelry, and electronics are among the local products with huge EU market potential.
Ms. Ledoux, for her part, is a staunch supporter of local fashion items. She said she loves Filipino artistry. Created by celebrated Filipino designer Joel Escober, the blush cocktail dress she wore on Europe Day stood out in a sea of black and grey tuxedos. Matching her ensemble were her pearl earrings and necklace from Jewelmer, a prominent oyster farm in Palawan.
“It’s a privilege to be [the] wife of the ambassador. I get to meet interesting people,” Ms. Ledoux said. Among the remarkable people she interacted with are out-of-school-youths from a program she supports. Ms. Margaret is also an education advocate.
“Of all the things that are really, really, important for me is to provide for the opportunity for growth and improvement,” she said. “One of the projects that I particularly love to work with is one called Life Project for Youth [LPY], based in Manila. It takes care of out-of-school youths, underprivileged, and juvenile prisoners ages 17-25. They go to training programs where they learn computer, commercial skills, and English.”
After the training, the LPY helps them get jobs in different enterprises. “This is something important because by keeping them employed, you’re giving them something for life, which they also give [to] their families and communities,” Ms. Ledoux said.
The PH-EU relationship is on the same page when it comes to education. The EU offers a scholarship program called Erasmus Mundusto, which aims to support Filipino students, researchers, and academics who wish to pursue higher education. About 25 scholarships are given every year. It covers airfare, tuition fees, and monthly allowance ranging from P80,000 to P120,000.
Mr. Ledoux said there are job opportunities in engineering and electronics. But he also urges young Filipino professionals to return to the Philippines and invest here. “It’s good that they can train in Europe, get their PhDs, and go back to the Philippines and start in the Philippines,” he said. When told that many professionals choose to stay abroad because of bigger income and more diverse opportunities, he smiled and said, “Everyone can do what he likes in a place wherever he’s comfortable.”
INVESTMENTS
With Philippine goods having the advantage of a gateway to the European market, the Philippine economy is expected to grow further. This brings in new investments and generates more job opportunities, Mr. Ledoux said. New and exciting investments are possibly on the way.
“The Filipino talents are recognized by the European Union. Today, I read in the newspaper about a Belgian company who wants to open a solar farm with [a] hundred megawatts. The German company called Continental recently expanded its products. I have read that the German car company Volkswagen [is also investing]. In hospitality business, many European chains like Accor plan to build new hotels expanding the Philippines’ tourism capacity,” Mr. Ledoux said. But he also thinks more investments would come in if the 60-40 foreign equity in the Constitution were amended.
“I think it would attract investments if that element would be changed,” he said. “I don’t know where exactly is the proposal but I think it will [help] boost...foreign investments in the Philippines. It would create more jobs in the Philippines. EU is the largest foreign investor in the Philippines and we’ve provided more than 50,000 jobs, but I’m sure we can provide more if that provision 60-40 would be scrapped.”
When asked what makes the Philippines a good place to invest in, Mr. Ledoux pointed out two things. “First is the high level of econom[ic] growth with sizable population and very clear improvement in governance. The international surveys show there’s an improvement. Everything’s going [in] the right direction. Second, we’re seeing the Philippines in global issues like climate change. The Philippines is one of the major victims. The meeting in Paris in December is to decide on global commitment. EU has announced [that it would] reduce its carbon emission by 40 percent in 2030 and it’s a strong commitment.”
Supertyphoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) -- the strongest sstorm in the country’s history -- hit the Philippines in November 2013, leaving a trail of destruction in central Visayas, especially Tacloban, Leyte. It was this calamity which prompted French President Francois Hollande, during his Philippine visit last February, to stop by, not Tacloban, but the Eastern Samar town of Guiuan -- a visit crucial to France’s climate change agenda, particularly its hosting the UN Climate Change Conference in December.
In an interview with BusinessWorld editors last week, Secretary Mary Ann Lucille L. Sering of the Philippines’ Climate Change Commission disclosed, among other things, that the Philippines will submit its Intended Nationally Determined Commitment (INDC) report in August. INDCs are the pledges by each country to reduce carbon emissions. This and other targets, notably the clamor to lower global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, is one crucial area of cooperation, and one more opportunity for solidarity, between the EU and the Philippines.
With this country’s historic ties with Europe (if via colonialism), Filipinos share not a few interests with European Union countries. A passion for great food is one, and here we reaffirm our ties with Spain. Madrid Fusion, Spain’s biggest gastronomical gathering, made its Manila debut last month, reviving -- especially flavor-wise -- the kinship between España y Filipinas.
But in contemporary Philippines, Europeans, including the Spanish, are not among the country’s most frequent visitors. Yet the numbers are still significant. Data by the Department of Tourism showed there were 55,047 visitor arrivals from Europe last March alone. The European Union, for its part, is also bridging the gap with the Philippines -- among other things, lifting the ban on two local airlines to travel to Europe.
The EU-Philippine partnership is a world of inspiring opportunities ready for the taking, and this was highlighted by the celebration here of Europe Day on May 9.
Europe Day is the annual celebration of peace and unity in Europe, in commemoration (the 65th this year) of the Schuman Declaration of May 9, 1950, which led to what became the EU. Mr. Ledoux headed Europe Day’s celebration here with the theme, “We Inspire Each Other.”
“The Philippines is an inspiring place to be,” Mr. Ledoux said in the Europe Day celebration at Sofitel Manila. “The EU leaders have noticed the improvement of the economy, with 6.7% growth rate. The Philippines has made tremendous progress in the last three to four years in terms of competitiveness and reduction of corruption. If we continue on the same line in the coming years, maintaining its 6.7% growth, it can double in the next 10 years. We learn a lot about the Philippines’ strong working capacity. We have many examples of mutual inspirations.”
PINOY PRODUCTS
Lechon was included in the celebration’s menu. Europeans loved it so much it was finished just minutes after the buffet opened. In our interview, Mr. Ledoux said lechonis a must-try among foreigners. Although this may not be recommended aspasalubong (gift), there are still over 6,000 categories of Philippine products now ready for export without tariffs. The Philippines is a beneficiary of trade preferences granted by the EU under the standard Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) signed last December. The Philippines is the first member-state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to join the GSP. Mr. Ledoux said our trade is worth 12 billion Euros. Coffee, tropical-fruit juices like mango, pineapple, and coconut, as well as textiles, footwear, garments, jewelry, and electronics are among the local products with huge EU market potential.
Ms. Ledoux, for her part, is a staunch supporter of local fashion items. She said she loves Filipino artistry. Created by celebrated Filipino designer Joel Escober, the blush cocktail dress she wore on Europe Day stood out in a sea of black and grey tuxedos. Matching her ensemble were her pearl earrings and necklace from Jewelmer, a prominent oyster farm in Palawan.
“It’s a privilege to be [the] wife of the ambassador. I get to meet interesting people,” Ms. Ledoux said. Among the remarkable people she interacted with are out-of-school-youths from a program she supports. Ms. Margaret is also an education advocate.
“Of all the things that are really, really, important for me is to provide for the opportunity for growth and improvement,” she said. “One of the projects that I particularly love to work with is one called Life Project for Youth [LPY], based in Manila. It takes care of out-of-school youths, underprivileged, and juvenile prisoners ages 17-25. They go to training programs where they learn computer, commercial skills, and English.”
After the training, the LPY helps them get jobs in different enterprises. “This is something important because by keeping them employed, you’re giving them something for life, which they also give [to] their families and communities,” Ms. Ledoux said.
The PH-EU relationship is on the same page when it comes to education. The EU offers a scholarship program called Erasmus Mundusto, which aims to support Filipino students, researchers, and academics who wish to pursue higher education. About 25 scholarships are given every year. It covers airfare, tuition fees, and monthly allowance ranging from P80,000 to P120,000.
Mr. Ledoux said there are job opportunities in engineering and electronics. But he also urges young Filipino professionals to return to the Philippines and invest here. “It’s good that they can train in Europe, get their PhDs, and go back to the Philippines and start in the Philippines,” he said. When told that many professionals choose to stay abroad because of bigger income and more diverse opportunities, he smiled and said, “Everyone can do what he likes in a place wherever he’s comfortable.”
INVESTMENTS
With Philippine goods having the advantage of a gateway to the European market, the Philippine economy is expected to grow further. This brings in new investments and generates more job opportunities, Mr. Ledoux said. New and exciting investments are possibly on the way.
“The Filipino talents are recognized by the European Union. Today, I read in the newspaper about a Belgian company who wants to open a solar farm with [a] hundred megawatts. The German company called Continental recently expanded its products. I have read that the German car company Volkswagen [is also investing]. In hospitality business, many European chains like Accor plan to build new hotels expanding the Philippines’ tourism capacity,” Mr. Ledoux said. But he also thinks more investments would come in if the 60-40 foreign equity in the Constitution were amended.
“I think it would attract investments if that element would be changed,” he said. “I don’t know where exactly is the proposal but I think it will [help] boost...foreign investments in the Philippines. It would create more jobs in the Philippines. EU is the largest foreign investor in the Philippines and we’ve provided more than 50,000 jobs, but I’m sure we can provide more if that provision 60-40 would be scrapped.”
When asked what makes the Philippines a good place to invest in, Mr. Ledoux pointed out two things. “First is the high level of econom[ic] growth with sizable population and very clear improvement in governance. The international surveys show there’s an improvement. Everything’s going [in] the right direction. Second, we’re seeing the Philippines in global issues like climate change. The Philippines is one of the major victims. The meeting in Paris in December is to decide on global commitment. EU has announced [that it would] reduce its carbon emission by 40 percent in 2030 and it’s a strong commitment.”
Supertyphoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) -- the strongest sstorm in the country’s history -- hit the Philippines in November 2013, leaving a trail of destruction in central Visayas, especially Tacloban, Leyte. It was this calamity which prompted French President Francois Hollande, during his Philippine visit last February, to stop by, not Tacloban, but the Eastern Samar town of Guiuan -- a visit crucial to France’s climate change agenda, particularly its hosting the UN Climate Change Conference in December.
In an interview with BusinessWorld editors last week, Secretary Mary Ann Lucille L. Sering of the Philippines’ Climate Change Commission disclosed, among other things, that the Philippines will submit its Intended Nationally Determined Commitment (INDC) report in August. INDCs are the pledges by each country to reduce carbon emissions. This and other targets, notably the clamor to lower global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, is one crucial area of cooperation, and one more opportunity for solidarity, between the EU and the Philippines.
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