The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal

Celebrating the 2025 Sinulog Festival

Philippine Embassy Joins the Filipino Catholic Community in Portugal in celebrating the 2025 Sinulog Festival

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19 January 2025, Lisbon – The Philippine Embassy in Portugal joined the Filipino Catholic community in celebrating the Sinulog Festival in honor of the Feast of the Santo Niño de Cebu at the renowned Basilica da Estrela on 19 January 2025.

The annual Sinulog celebration was spearheaded by Filipino Chaplain, Father Jovito O. Osalvo, who led the community in a meaningful and faith-filled event. The program began with the performances of various Filipino community groups, showcasing the rich heritage and vibrant culture of the Philippines through colorful costumes and festive dance interpretations. This was followed by a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by Bishop Rui Valerio, the Patriarch of Lisbon.

In his speech, Ambassador Paul Raymund P. Cortes highlighted the significance of the Sinulog celebration in honoring the Filipino heritage while sharing it with the Portuguese community. He remarked, “This is what we aim to share with the people of Portugal and the rest of Europe—the faith that resides in the very core of the Filipino heart. This is our heritage, our faith, and our culture.” He also expressed gratitude to Father Osalvo and to the dedicated members of the Filipino community for their invaluable contributions and active involvement in community events.

After the mass, the Filipino community continued its celebration through a salu-salo of traditional Filipino dishes prepared by the members of the Filipino community. An estimated 200 Filipino and Portuguese attendees participated in the celebration.

The Sinulog Festival is a traditional celebration held annually in Cebu, Philippines, every third Sunday of January in honor of the Santo Niño. The festival traces its origins to the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese navigator who gifted the image of the Sto. Niño to the wife of the chieftain, Raja Humabon. END

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PH, Guinea-Bissau Stronger Bilateral Ties

Philippine Ambassador, Guinea-Bissau Foreign Minister Forge Path for Stronger Bilateral Ties

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17 January 2025, Bissau – Philippine Ambassador to Guinea-Bissau, Paul Raymund P. Cortes met with His Excellency Carlos Pinto Pereira, Guinea-Bissau's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Communities, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bissau.

Ambassador Cortes underscored the Philippines' interest in deepening its ties with Guinea-Bissau, particularly on key areas such as agriculture, food security, tourism, and expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation. He shared that the Philippines is willing to share its expertise in rice production and marketing.

Minister Pinto, for his part, emphasized Guinea-Bissau’s objective of being an attractive destination for international investment and conveyed that Philippine investors may explore investment opportunities in the country. He also shared Guinea-Bissau’s desire to establish stronger diplomatic representation in the Philippines and expressed interest in working with Ambassador Cortes to identify a suitable candidate for the position of Honorary Consul in Manila. In response, Ambassador Cortes echoed the sentiment and noted that the Philippines is also actively seeking an Honorary Consul in Bissau.

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A key topic discussed was the potential for tourism development in Guinea-Bissau’s Bijagós Islands. Ambassador Cortes took a keen interest in Bijagós’ natural beauty and resources, and Minister Pinto welcomed the idea of Philippine expertise in tourism. He suggested that the Philippines could contribute by sharing best practices in hospitality and tourism training for young people from the Bijagós Islands, potentially opening avenues for tourism-related investments from the Philippines.

Minister Pinto also extended an invitation to Philippine ministerial officials to visit Guinea-Bissau, signaling the government’s eagerness to elevate the bilateral relationship through high-level exchanges.

Ambassador Cortes expressed his appreciation for the Minister's warm reception and constructive discussions, noting that both countries stand to benefit greatly from expanded cooperation in agriculture, tourism, and other sectors. The Ambassador reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to fostering strong ties with Guinea-Bissau and advancing shared goals of economic and sustainable development. END