Embassy of the Philippines, Dublin

Embassy of the Philippines, Dublin
Pasuguan ng Pilipinas sa Dublin
Ambasáid na nOileáin Fhilipíneach i mBaile Átha Cliath
Map
LocationDublin
Address69-71 St Stephen's Green
Coordinates53°20′10.2″N 6°15′29.3″W / 53.336167°N 6.258139°W / 53.336167; -6.258139
AmbassadorAriel Y. Abadilla
(last resident ambassador)
Daniel R. Espiritu
(Ambassador-Designate)
Websitephilembassydublin.ie (Archived 2012-06-29 at the Wayback Machine)

The Embassy of the Philippines in Dublin was the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Ireland. Opened in 2009, it was located at the fourth floor of Hainault House along the southern perimeter of St Stephen's Green in central Dublin.

Closed in 2012 due to a reduction in the Philippines' diplomatic presence worldwide during the presidency of Benigno Aquino III, the mission is scheduled to reopen in 2024.

History

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Although diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Ireland were established in 1984, relations were initially conducted through an honorary consulate in Dublin.[1]

A resident embassy in Ireland was not opened until the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, when the Philippine Embassy in Dublin was opened on July 9, 2009. Initially operating out of temporary office space at 77 Sir John Rogerson's Quay, it began offering consular services a week later.[1] The Embassy then inaugurated its permanent chancery on November 30, 2010, coinciding with Bonifacio Day, with an open house for the Filipino community in Ireland being held two days before.[2]

Expansion of the Philippines' diplomatic presence abroad during the Arroyo presidency was not without controversy: in 2010, Senator Franklin Drilon questioned the need for embassies in countries with small Filipino communities, including a number of countries in Europe, and called for a review of the Philippines' diplomatic presence worldwide.[3] This would lead to the closure of ten posts under Arroyo's successor, Benigno Aquino III, and ultimately to the closure of the Embassy by October 31, 2012,[4] which took effect nearly three months earlier on July 16, 2012.[5] Ireland was then placed under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in London,[6] with services provided through a reopened honorary consulate,[7] although Filipinos in Ireland have asked for the Embassy to be reopened due to the limited services provided by the honorary consulate.[8]

By 2019, the Philippine government had begun considering reopening a resident mission in Ireland, with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. announcing that the Philippine Embassy in Dublin would reopen as part of an expansion of the country's diplomatic presence under Aquino's successor, Rodrigo Duterte.[9] On November 15, 2022, during budget deliberations for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Senator Loren Legarda announced that the Embassy was one of four missions that would reopen in 2024,[10] and the DFA, spurred in part by the reopening of the Irish Embassy in Manila in 2021, itself confirmed during a debate on Ireland–Philippines relations at Trinity College Dublin on May 30, 2024, that a resident mission in Ireland would reopen in late 2024.[11]

The advance team setting up the Embassy announced that they had arrived in Dublin on October 29, 2024, and are preparing to immediately begin offering consular services once the mission has completed all the required procedures for opening.[12]

Staff and activities

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The Philippine Embassy in Dublin was headed by Ambassador Ariel Y. Abadilla, the Philippines' first (and so far, only) resident ambassador to Ireland. A career diplomat who was appointed to the position by President Arroyo on February 17, 2009,[13] he previously served as Consul General at the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu.[14] His appointment was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) on March 4, 2009,[15] and he presented his credentials to Irish President Mary McAleese on June 29, 2009.[16] Abadilla was subsequently recalled with the Embassy's impending closure,[17] and at the time it closed it was headed by Hjayceelyn M. Quintana as chargée d'affaires.[18]

With the embassy's impending reopening it is set to be headed by a new ambassador, Daniel R. Espiritu, who was appointed to the position by President Bongbong Marcos on August 4, 2024.[19] Prior to becoming ambassador, Espiritu, a career diplomat, served as the DFA's assistant secretary for ASEAN Affairs.[20] His appointment was confirmed by the CA on September 10, 2024.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Balana, Cynthia (July 15, 2009). "Philippines opens embassy in Dublin". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "Phl Embassy in Dublin Inaugurates Chancery" (Press release). Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. December 3, 2010. Archived from the original on January 15, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Ager, Maila (October 20, 2010). "Review sought over number of RP embassies". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 23, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  4. ^ Del Callar, Michaela (September 4, 2012). "DFA shuts down five overseas posts, with five more to close this year". GMA News and Public Affairs. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  5. ^ "NOTICE". Embassy of the Philippines, Dublin. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  6. ^ Ubac, Michael Lim (July 27, 2013). "9 appointed to foreign posts; turf of envoy to US widened". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  7. ^ Garcia, Roderick (May 22, 2018). "Missing Filipina student found dead in Ireland". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  8. ^ Brady, Vanda Marie (November 24, 2022). "Panawagan para magkaroon ng embahada, mas mabilis na deployment ng Pinoy sa Ireland" [Calls to have an embassy [and] more rapid deployment of Filipinos to Ireland] (in Filipino). ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Ramoran, Carol (February 23, 2019). "LOOK: Philippines marks 65th year of German ties with new model embassy". Rappler. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  10. ^ Tamayo, Bernadette E. (November 15, 2022). "DFA to reopen 4 embassies as Senate okays P20.3B budget". The Manila Times. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  11. ^ "Trinity Hosts Debate on the Future of The Philippines-Ireland Relations" (Press release). Trinity College Dublin. May 30, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  12. ^ "PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN DUBLIN TO OPEN SOON" (Press release). Embassy of the Philippines, Dublin. October 29, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  13. ^ Porcalla, Delon (February 17, 2009). "19 AFP officers promoted". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  14. ^ Romulo, Mons (June 15, 2008). "What memory about your father makes you cry?". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  15. ^ Porcalla, Delon (March 18, 2009). "GMA to reappoint 60 bypassed officials". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  16. ^ "RP Embassy opens temporary office in Dublin". GMA News and Public Affairs. July 16, 2009. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  17. ^ "The Ambassador's Page". Embassy of the Philippines, Dublin. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  18. ^ "DIPLOMATIC LIST - May 2012" (PDF). Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland. May 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 10, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  19. ^ Flores, Helen (August 4, 2024). "Marcos names new envoys, government officials". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  20. ^ Flores, Helen (March 3, 2024). "President Marcos to attend Asean-Australia meet in Melbourne". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  21. ^ Abarca, Charie (September 10, 2024). "28 foreign service officials get CA nod". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
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