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                                                      Philippine Embassy building

 

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations

 

The Philippines and Jordan agreed on 01 March 1976 to establish diplomatic relations and to exchange ambassadors at the earliest possible time.  The signing of the agreement between  Prime Minister Zaid Al-Rifai, now Senate President, (since November 1997) and Foreign Affairs Secretary Carlos P. Romulo, highlighted the two-day visit in Manila of King Hussein Bin Talal and Queen Alia.  Also in the group was Dr. Fayez Al-Tarawneh, now Prime Minister (since 20 August 1998) and a Filipina private secretary to Queen Alia, Ms. Elnora Agulto.

 

 

Establishment of the Philippine Embassy in Amman

 

Then FSO I, later Counselor, Rafael E. Seguis opened the Embassy in Amman in 1980 as Charge d’Affaires, a.i.  Before the Embassy’s opening in 1980, Mr. Costandi M. Muna was appointed Philippine Honorary Consul, 1979-1980. The following Foreign Service Officers served as consecutive heads of post:

 

Mr. Rafael E. Seguis                                                                                                                                                                             (FSO I - Counselor) CDA, a.i. : 1980-1981

Hon. Cesar C. Pastores

(FSO I - Counselor) CDA, a.i. : 1981-1983

(CM II) Ambassador : 1983-1985

 

Mr. Emmanuel J. Contreras

(FSO II) CDA, a.i. : 1985-1986

 

Hon. Juan V. Saez

(CM I) Ambassador : 1986-1989

 

Mr. Ernesto N. Diano

(FSO II) CDA, a.i. : 1989

 

Hon. Pacifico A. Castro

(CM I) Ambassador : 1989-1993

(Embassy closed in November 1993)

 

(With the Embassy’s closing in 1993, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Shafiq Jumean was appointed as Philippine Honorary Consul General, 1993-1998)

 

Hon. Ruperto M. Dizon

(CM II) Ambassador : 1998

(Embassy reopened on 12 April 1998)

 

 

Reopening of the Embassy

 

Taking into account the major role of Jordan in international and regional affairs, including the Organization of Islamic Conference, a resident Philippine Embassy in Amman will:

 

·         Attend to and seek measures to solve the problems of some 7,500 (95% women househelps OFWs in Jordan) and facilitate evacuation of OFWs in nearby Middle East countries in case of need.  

 

·         Strengthen the Philippine government’s thrust in economic diplomacy in Jordan and the emerging State of Palestine.

 

·         Monitor the Middle East Peace Process and other regional developments.

 

As embodied in the Letter of Instructions of H.E. President Fidel V. Ramos to Ambassador Ruperto M. Dizon dated 06 April 1998, the following Mission Statement shall be the Embassy’s guide:

 

·         Be guided by the provisions of Republic Act No. 7157, otherwise known as the Foreign Service Code of 1992 and the implementing orders there under in particular the Regulations of the Department of Foreign Affairs of 28 April 1995 and amendments thereto.

 

·         Remain sensitive to the plight of Filipinos overseas by rendering to them timely assistance and providing them appropriate protection under the Filipino Migrant Workers Act of 1995, with due consideration to the local laws and regulations of the host government.

 

·         Exert best efforts to promote and enhance existing bilateral relations, guided primarily by Philippine national interests through cooperation in international fora, support for Philippine positions and candidatures, and issues on human rights, international peace and security, and sustainable development, including the national policy on Southern Mindanao, among others.

 

·         In pursuit of Philippine central foreign policy thrust of  “diplomacy for development” exert best efforts in enhancing not only political and cultural relations but also economic relations keeping in mind the development plans of Philippines 2000 by identifying, exploring, and intensifying areas of economic cooperation for mutual benefit in trade, investments, culture, tourism, science and technology, and human resource development and protection.

 

 

Establishment/Advance Party:

 

With the arrival of the advance party in Amman, Jordan and formal  notification by Note Verbale to and courtesy call on Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Embassy in Jordan was, after its closure in 1993, officially re-opened on 12 April 1998.  The advance party was composed of the following officers:

 

1. Claro Dimayuga - Finance Officer/Signing Officer

               (FSSO II) and Attache

 

2. Jaime E. Calano - Administrative Officer/Consular

               (FSSE I) Assistant and Attache

 

3. Rogelio Gumabay - Communications/Property/

               (FSSE I) Protocol Officer and Attache

 

A temporary Embassy office was set up at a suite at the Amra Hotel until 01 July 1998 when it moved to its present site.   Hundreds of OFWs warmly welcomed the re-establishment of the Philippine Embassy, expressing their appreciation for the Philippine Government’s concern for their difficult plight as “foreign guest workers” in The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

 

                                                         H.E. Ambassador Ruperto Dizon presenting his Letters of Credence to H.M. King Hussein bin Talal.

Presentation of Credentials by Ambassador Ruperto M. Dizon:

 

Arriving in Amman, Jordan with spouse Maria Erlinda Felix-Dizon on 16 April 1998, Ambassador Ruperto M. Dizon presented his open (copy) Letters of Credence on 18 April 1998 to then Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Jawad Anani (now Chief of the Royal Court).

 

On 10 May 1998, he presented His Letters of Credence as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Letters of Recall of  Ambassador Rafael E. Seguis, to His Majesty King Hussein bin Talal, at the Royal Palace in Amman, with his official entourage: Attaches Claro Dimayuga, Jaime Calano and Jennifer Demesa Gapuz.

 

Present during the solemn ceremony were Chief of the Royal Court, Dr. Fayez Al-Tarawneh (now Prime Minister); Royal Court Chamberlain, HRH Prince Raad bin Said; and then Acting Foreign Minister Talal Al-Hassan.

 

 

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