The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon officially welcomed members of the Filipiino community in a blessing ceremony of its new chancery on 6 August 2023. The Embassy transferred to its new location in Baabda, Mount Lebanon effective 1 July 2023 to improve the performance of its mandated functions.
Photo: Philippine Embassy led by H.E. Ambassador Raymond R. Balatbat (center right) with the Filipino Community at the blessing of the new chancery.
The program started with a flag raising ceremony, the Embassy’s first with the Filipino community in its new location. Fr. Augustine Advincula, a Filipino priest in Beirut, officiated the blessing of the new chancery with a solemn invocation. H.E. Raymond R. Balatbat and Embassy personnel accompanied Fr. Advincula during the blessing of the premises.
Photo: Fr. Advincula blesses the new Philippine Embassy chancery with Ambassador Balatbat and its personnel.
The Ambassador officially welcomed the Filipino community in the new chancery for the first time in his address. He conveyed that upon his arrival in Lebanon, he prioritized the movement of the Embassy to a new location that the Filipinos in Lebanon truly deserve.
Photos: Ambassador Balatbat leads the induction ceremony of new Filipino Community groups.
In line with the Embassy’s objective to improve its coordination with the Filipino community, the Ambassador led the oath-taking of three (3) new Filipino community groups. The Filipino groups and coordinators play a key role in strengthening the relations between the Philippines and Lebanon and in helping the Embassy deliver efficient and quality services to the community. The Embassy continues to accept group registrations and commits to engage them in its economic and cultural activities in Lebanon.
Photos: Ambassador Balatbat with Filipino community groups in Lebanon at the Embassy’s main hall.
The Philippine Embassy’s transfer to a new location is also expected to improve the delivery of its services to the Filipino community. The old location in Hadath, Mount Lebanon now houses the newly established Migrant Workers Office (MWO). END
