“Rizal in Hong Kong” Lecture Series Launched
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Distinguished historian and columnist Dr. Ambeth Ocampo held the first of his lecture series on “Rizal in Hong
Kong” at the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, Central last November 21. His lecture also highlighted Hong Kong’s
important role in the Philippines’ birth as a nation.
Dr. Ocampo revealed actual little-known details of Rizal’s daily activities in the former British colony from 1891 to
1892 such as the location of his clinic and residence.
He also pointed out that other Philippine revolutionaries had resided in Hong Kong including Artemio Ricarte,
Juan Luna, Felipe and Marcela Agoncillo, and Mariano Ponce.
Dr. Ocampo’s personal “story-telling” style made the lecture more absorbing and accessible to the audience,
composed mainly of permanent residents and their children who are currently living in Hong Kong.
He is set to return to Hong Kong to conduct a similar lecture on Rizal on December 6 at the Philippine Consulate
General in Hong Kong. END
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RP Embassy In HK Holds 2009 Concert in the Park
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The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong recently held a successful 23rd Concert in the Park, with the
theme, “One Voice, One Beat, One Vibe”.
Held at the Piazza of the Hong Kong Cultural Center in Kowloon last November 22, the concert was organized in
coordination with Hong Kong Government’s Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Hong Kong
Musicians Union (HKMU).
Approximately 15,000 viewers attended the free concert, which can be best described as a musical extravaganza
showcasing HKMU’s best new bands.
This year’s concert featured seven bands namely: The Culprits, Proteus and Friends, Music Seekers, Charcoal,
Sensational at Tiffany’s, Kaktooz and H2O, who belted out a melange of country music, rock n’ roll, rhythm and
blues, motown, pop, and jazz music.
With the growing number of viewers to the concert, the Philippine Consulate General aims to bring the event to a
bigger crowd in Victoria Park in 2010.
Members of HKMU have predominantly been Filipino since its inception in 1948, but there were several
performers from different nationalities this year.
This year’s concert featured a former guitarist of Black Eyed Peas, Apl de Ap. The Culprits had some Canadian
band members while Proteus brought along a Chinese vocalist and a Sri Lankan drummer and base guitar
player. END
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Haraya Art Exhibit Opens in Hong Kong
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Philippine Consul General to Hong Kong Claro S. Crisotobal and Mr. HC Tang, Chief Curator of the Hong Kong
Museum of Art, led the opening of “Haraya: An Exhibition of Contemporary Works by Hong Kong-based Filipino
Artists”.
The exhibit opened last November 17 at the Hong Kong Visual Arts Center, 7A Kennedy Road, Central.
Mr. Bobit Segismundo, President of the Haraya Arts and Media Society (Haraya); and Mr. Aldrin Monsod, Overall
Coordinator of the Philippine Arts and Cultural Society (PACS), likewise spoke during the opening, emphasizing
on the strong presence of the Filipino artists community in Hong Kong.
The exhibition featured the works of 14 Hong Kong-based Filipino artists namely, Jun Cambel, Rodolfo “Jun”
Canete, Joel Ferraris, Ben Guia, Rene Guillen, Charito Helgason, Martin Megino, Aldrin Monsod, Dani Packer,
Emilio “Boyet” Rivera III, Manuel Rubio, Bobit Segismundo, Frances Segismundo and Edgar Tapan.
Utilizing various art platforms like paintings, installation media art, photographs and digital drawings, the
exhibition depicted the artists’ views on modern man and his social relations in today’s contemporary setting.
The exhibit is part of the continuing 4th Philippine Arts Festival organized by the PACS and Haraya, supported by
Hong Kong’s Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Philippine Consulate General. The
exhibit ran until November 30. END
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Greek Tanker with 16 Filipino Crew Hijacked by Somali Pirates
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The local manning agency of a Greek vessel reported to have been seized by Somali pirated confirmed the latest
hijacking incident involving 16 Filipino seafarers.
Greek-flagged MT Maran Centaurus and its 28-man crew were hijacked last November 29, about 750 nautical
miles off the coast of Somalia.
The vessel’s local manning agency likewise informed the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of the
Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) that the families of the Filipino seafarers were already
informed of the incident.
The vessel’s crew consists of 16 Filipinos, nine Greeks, two Ukrainians, and one Romanian.
The DFA has instructed the Philippine Embassy in Athens to closely coordinate with Maran Tankers
Management, Inc., the vessel’s principal based in Greece, for the safe and immediate release of the Filipino
seafarers.
The DFA has also instructed the Philippine Embassy in Manama, Bahrain, to make parallel representations with
the combined naval authorities patrolling the region.
The Philippines has travel and labor deployment bans to Somalia.
The DFA has taken up the piracy issue and, in particular, advocated for stronger protection for all seafarers, in
talks with Japan, U.S. and other bilateral partners, as well as before the International Maritime Organization, the
United Nations and other international fora.
The DFA, through its OUMWA office, has also regularly met with families of abducted crew members and
extended social and other forms of support.
Earlier, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said unscrupulous recruiters contribute to the problem of
implementing the current ban.
There are now six vessels with 70 Filipino seafarers in captivity off Somalia. END
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Philippines Re-Elected to IMO Council
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The Philippines was re-elected to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council under Category “C”
during the 26th Session of the IMO Assembly held on November 27, Philippine Ambassador to London Antonio
M. Lagdameo reported.
The Philippines obtained 124 votes and placed fifth in a field of 26 candidate-states vying for 20 seats. It has
been a member of the IMO since 1964, and started serving in the Council in 1997.
Category “C” is composed of states which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation, and whose
election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world.
The other countries elected in Category “C” are Singapore, Turkey, Cyprus, Indonesia, Malta, Egypt, Nigeria,
Malaysia, South Africa, Chile, Mexico, Denmark, Bahamas, Kenya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Australia, Jamaica,
Belgium, and Thailand.
Noting that Filipinos account for more than 20 percent of the world’s maritime manpower, Ambassador
Lagdameo said, “The IMO shall always be an important international organization where the Philippines intends
to be active. As the primary source of globally competitive seafarers, we have to be in the IMO Council in order to
advocate for better treatment and conditions for the world’s seafarers.”
The Philippines has been widely recognized as the voice of the seafarers.
“Our re-election to the Council would not have been possible without the support and trust given by an
overwhelming number of governments represented in IMO for which we shall always be grateful,” he added.
The IMO Assembly is expected to conclude its session by December 4 after reviewing all the recommendations
submitted by its various committees and sub-committees.
Its primary committee, the Maritime Safety Committee, is chaired by Filipino diplomat Neil Frank Ferrer.
The IMO is the United Nation’s specialized agency on maritime issues. Its primary purpose is to develop and
maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping and its remit today includes safety, environmental
concerns, legal matters, technical co-operation, maritime security and the efficiency of shipping. END
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