Embassy of the Philippines, Helsinki Pasuguan ng Pilipinas sa Helsinki Filippiinien Helsingin-suurlähetystö Filippinernas ambassad i Helsingfors | |
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Location | Helsinki |
Address | Mannerheimintie 12b |
Coordinates | 60°10′4.5″N24°56′26.5″E / 60.167917°N 24.940694°E |
Chargé d'affaires | Ana Clariza P. Briones |
The Embassy of the Philippines in Helsinki is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Finland. It is located on Mannerheimintie in the Kamppi neighborhood of central Helsinki, beside the Hotel Marski and across from the flagship Stockmann department store.
Although the current embassy dates from 2024, the Philippines also maintained a previous resident embassy in Finland between 2009 and 2012.
Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Finland were established on July 14, 1955, although a resident mission would not open until much later. Relations were initially conducted through the Philippine Embassy in London, with President Ramon Magsaysay appointing León María Guerrero III as non-resident ambassador to Finland. [1] Jurisdiction over Finland would later pass between various missions in Europe, including the embassies in Bonn, Moscow, and Stockholm. [1]
Deepening relations, especially economic ties, [2] between the Philippines and Finland would lead to the opening of the Embassy on November 2, 2009, during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, [1] alongside resident missions also opening that year in Ireland, Poland, and Portugal. [3] It would take over responsibility for conducting relations with Finland from the Philippine Embassy in Stockholm ten days later, [4] and consular services would later be offered starting on April 12, 2010, with the opening of the Embassy's consular section. [1]
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. [5] This would lead to the closure of ten posts under Arroyo's successor, Benigno Aquino III, and ultimately to the closure of the embassies in Finland and Sweden on October 31, 2012, [6] with both countries being placed under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Oslo, [7] and services in Finland provided through an honorary consulate in Helsinki. [8] Finland was then later placed under the jurisdiction of the reopened Philippine Embassy in Stockholm on May 15, 2020, [9] and a second honorary consulate, replacing the first one, opened in Espoo two months later on July 16, 2020. [10]
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. [11] Spurred in part by the reopening of the Finnish Embassy in Manila in 2020, [12] this was reaffirmed by Vice President Sara Duterte in October 2023, [13] and some time thereafter the DFA itself confirmed that it was undertaking final preparations for the reopening of a resident Philippine mission in Finland in 2024. [14]
The advance team setting up the Embassy announced that they had arrived in Helsinki on September 24, 2024, and are preparing to immediately begin offering consular services once the mission has completed all the required procedures for opening. [15] It formally opened nearly two weeks later on October 4, 2024. [16]
The chancery of the Philippine Embassy in Helsinki was first located on Keskuskatu 1b in the neighboring Kluuvi neighborhood, behind the Stockmann department store. [17] With the Embassy's reopening, it set up a new chancery nearby on Mannerheimintie. [18]
The Philippine Embassy in Helsinki is provisionally headed by a chargé d'affaires , pending the appointment of a new ambassador by the Philippine government. The current chargée d'affaires is Ana Clariza P. Briones, [18] while the last resident ambassador was Maria Angelina M. Sta. Catalina, the Philippines' first (and so far, only) resident ambassador to Finland. A career diplomat who was appointed to the position by President Arroyo, she previously served as Consul General at the Philippine Embassy in Brussels. [19] Her appointment was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) on May 20, 2009, [20] and she presented her credentials to Finnish President Tarja Halonen on November 12, 2009. [1]
The Embassy is set to be headed by a new resident ambassador, Domingo P. Nolasco, who was appointed to the position by President Bongbong Marcos on June 25, 2024. [21] Prior to his appointment, Nolasco, a career diplomat, served as the DFA's Assistant Secretary for Financial Management Services, [22] and before that served at the Philippine Embassy in Rome as ambassador to Italy. [23] His appointment was confirmed by the CA on August 7, 2024. [24]
The Embassy of the Philippines in Warsaw is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Poland. It is located on ul. Stanisława Lentza 11 in the Wilanów district of south Warsaw, near the Wilanów Palace. Although the current embassy dates from 2009, the Philippines also maintained a previous resident embassy in Poland in the early 1990s.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Madrid is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Spain. Opened in 1951, it is located at the corner of Calle Eresma and Calle Guadalquivir in the barrio (neighborhood) of El Viso, part of the district of Chamartín in northern Madrid, where it has been since 1998.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Stockholm is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Sweden. It is located on the island of Lidingö in Stockholm County, east of Stockholm city proper. Although the current embassy dates from 2020, the Philippines also maintained a previous resident embassy in Sweden between 1978 and 2012.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Mexico City is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Mexican States. It is currently at Avenida Thiers 111 in Colonia Anzures, part of the alcaldía (municipality) of Miguel Hidalgo in northwestern Mexico City.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Santiago is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Chile. Opened in 1981, it is currently located at Calle Félix de Amesti 367, northeast of Santiago proper in the city of Las Condes, Santiago Province.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Copenhagen is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Denmark. Opened in 2019, it is located at the first floor of 13 Arne Jacobsen Avenue in the Ørestad district of Copenhagen, near Ørestad Station and opposite the Field's shopping mall.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Oslo is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Norway, opened in 2007. It is located at Nedre Vollgate 8 in central Oslo, near Kontraskjæret and the Akershus Fortress.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Cairo is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Arab Republic of Egypt. Opened in 1960, it is currently located in the southern Maadi district of Cairo, near the Cairo American College.
The Consulate General of the Philippines in Frankfurt is a diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines in Germany, representing the country's interests in Hesse. It is located on the first floor of the Westend Carree complex along Grüneburgweg in the Westend-Nord district of Frankfurt, near the main campus of the Goethe University Frankfurt. Although the current consulate dates from 2019, the Philippines also maintained a previous consulate in Frankfurt between 2009 and 2012.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Rabat is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Morocco. It is currently located in the Souissi neighborhood of southern Rabat, near the Finnish, Norwegian and Russian embassies. Although the current embassy dates from 2019, the Philippines maintained a previous resident embassy in Morocco from 1979 to 1986, and again from 1990 to 1993.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Rome is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Italian Republic. First opened in 1947, it is currently located along the Via Aurelia in the quarter (quartiere) of Aurelio, part of Municipio XIII in western Rome, just west of Vatican City.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Lisbon is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Portuguese Republic. It is located in the freguesia of Santo António in central Lisbon, next to the Casa-Museu Medeiros e Almeida, and near the Avenida da Liberdade and the Marquis of Pombal Square. Although the current chancery dates from 2010, the Philippines also maintained a previous resident embassy in Portugal between 1965 and 1974.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Baghdad is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Iraq. Opened in 1980, it is located in the Al-Jadriya neighborhood of the Karrada district in eastern Baghdad, near the main campus of the University of Baghdad.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Manama is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Bahrain. Opened in 1992, it is located in the Adliya neighborhood of central Manama, near the Salmaniya Medical Complex.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Amman is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It is located in the neighborhood of Sweifieh in the Wadi Al-Seer district of western Amman. Although the current embassy dates from 1998, the Philippines also maintained a previous resident embassy in Jordan between 1980 and 1993.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Bogotá is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Colombia. Opened in 2024, it is currently located in the barrio (neighborhood) of El Chicó, part of the locality of Chapinero in northern Bogotá.
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.
The Embassy of the Philippines in Bucharest was the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to Romania. First opened in 1975, it was last located in the neighborhood of Cotroceni, part of Sector 5 in western Bucharest.