In a clarion call to Filipino tri-media practitioners across Canada, Philippine Ambassador to Canada Leslie B. Gatan rallied members of the Philippine Press Club-Ontario (PPC-O) behind the Embassy's economic diplomacy offensive.
In his keynote speech at the 10th PPO-C Anniversary in Toronto on December 2, Ambassador Gatan spelled out his remit as the Philippines' top envoy in the world's second largest country.
Within the context of President Benigno S. Aquino III's Social Contract with the Filipino people, the Philippine Development Plan and the three pillars of Philippine foreign policy, the Ambassador pointed to the enhancement of Philippines-Canada relations and the profile of the Filipino community in Canada as overarching diplomatic tools to carry out his mandate.
Believe in the Philippines
Keeping faith with the Philippines underpinned the Ambassador Gatan's message for Filipinos in Canada.
"I strongly believe that our strengths as a country and people eclipse our weaknesses; the opportunities for growth in our country outweigh actual or latent threats," he posited.
"When the world was plunged into the energy crisis in the early 1970s, the Philippines withstood it; when the financial crisis engulfed the world in the late 1990s, the Philippines weathered it; and during the current global economic downturn, our 2010 GDP was over 5% compared to Canada's 2% which was the best in the West," the Ambassador declared.
Ambassador Gatan attributed the country's resilience to the sound economic fundamentals crafted by "top-notch planners superior to, if not comparable with the best, especially on monetary policies, ably managed by our professionals in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas."
PHL big in Gross Domestic Happiness
The Philippine envoy rejected the idea that it was obsessive optimism or sheer propaganda that made him speak of the Philippines as the best country in the world.
Low ratings in quantitative benchmarks aside, he averred that "the Philippines ranks among the top in the world in terms of gross domestic happiness, for we are considered among the most cheerful, caring and friendliest peoples in the world. Tell me what is bad about our country and I can tell you what is better about it."
Tourism, Trade and Investments
Recognizing the Philippine Government's limited marketing resources, Ambassador Gatan echoed the call of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez to capitalize on social media in promoting Philippine tourism.
"Help us promote tourism. Do not be deterred by the long-haul or by the state of NAIA or by our inadequate infrastructure. It is a touristic adventure to navigate all these realities, while improvements are being made, "he exhorted.
As for trade, the Ambassador cited electronics, computer parts, electrical goods, tuna, and coconut products as champions of the Philippine export sector.
He urged Filipinos in Canada to help provide market intelligence beneficial to Philippine industries.
On investments, he took pride in the President's Public-Private Partnerships, the Board of Investments, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and other world-class investment zones throughout the country.
"We have a pool of highly trained workers. We are now the fourth largest shipbuilding country in the world. Our IT experts are among best. In business process outsourcing (BPO), we rank third after India and Canada but in the voice service, we are at the top, with revenues threatening to approximate the volume of remittances. We succeeded in negotiating with India to turnover voice service because of our comparative advantage. We are now talking to the Canadians to partner with us in non-voice service," Ambassador Gatan said.
Canadian firms that have recognized the Philippines' favorable investment climate include telecom giant Telus, which employs 9,000 Filipinos; Bombardier, one of the world's largest rail and airplane manufacturers, which have shared services from finance to back offices, accounting and bookkeeping in Cebu, Manulife and Sunlife.
Canadian mining maintains a significant presence in highly-mineralized Philippines whose total deposits are valued at US$1T.
Parting Words
On his first major public appearance in Toronto, Ambassador Gatan restated his message for all Filipinos in Canada.
"I believe that the best country yet to tour, to trade with and to invest in is the Philippines. I believe that once we get our acts together, no country can beat us. I can see our strengths outweighing our weaknesses; the opportunities abounding in our land over the threats to it. Believe in the bright prospects of the Philippines and the rest of the world will also believe," he said.