Arrival Speech from an Official Visit to United Kingdom and the United States of America
Published June 10, 2012 | NAIA Terminal 2, Pasay City
10 June 2012
Arrival Ceremony from an Official Visit to United Kingdom and the United States of America
Published June 10, 2012 | NAIA Terminal 2, Pasay City
10 June 2012
President Benigno S. Aquino III highlighted his achievements in his six-day working visit to the United Kingdom and United Sates of America during his arrival at the NAIA Terminal 2 early this morning.
According to the President, his visit has yielded not less than $2.5-billion equivalent to P100-billion target business investment to enter the country from foreign companies in the UK and US. He said that by attracting foreign investors to expand its business in the country it will result to job creation and employment.
President Aquino also revealed defense and security agreements made with US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea. He said that President Obama himself has stressed the importance of the Philippines as an ally nation, and that he supports the interest of the Philippines to maintain freedom of navigation in the disputed sea while underscoring peaceful negotiations with the rivalled country. Secretary Clinton had also announced that they will help build a national coast watch center in the Philippines and will send additional Peace Corps volunteers.
On the country’s growth and development, President Aquino announced that the Philippines shall be a recipient to a debt-for-nature swap which will relinquish $23-million of debt as long as trees will be planted in exchange. An additional $30-million under the Partnership for Growth program was also granted for the Philippines in support of government programs campaigning against poverty.
The President also expressed his delight in seeing a strong and united Filipino community in both countries. He added that the launching of the US-Filipino Society is a testimony to a growing support for the Philippines to reach its full potential.
“Anim at kalahating araw po tayong nalayo sa inang bayan; 42 hours po dito ay ginugol namin sa loob ng eroplano. Nakita po ninyo: hindi natin sinayang ang pagbiyahe, at talagang isinagad po natin ang buong pagkakataon upang isulong ang ating bayan sa landas ng kasaganahan at pang-malawakang kaunlaran”, the President said.
Accompanying the President were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas, Tourism Secretary Mon Jimenez, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang and Energy Secretary Rene Almendraz.
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Meeting with His Royal Highness, The Duke of York
Published June 6, 2012 | Buckingham Palace
6 June 2012
Before ending his three-day official visit to United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, President Benigno S. Aquino III went to Buckingham Palace to meet with His Royal Highness, The Duke of York.
The President conveyed the best wishes of the Filipino people to Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee, saying that he was happy to witness this important event in the history of the United Kingdom.
The Duke of York is the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment (UKTI) since October 2001. Among the roles of His Royal Highness involve supporting The Queen as Head of State, promoting the U.K. as an attractive inward investment destination for foreign investors, creating more positive business conditions for British businesses investing overseas, and helping U.K. companies export their products to emerging and established markets.
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Posted in Foreign Trips Articles, President's Activities | 
activities, HRH Duke of York, London, UK, videosCoffee Meeting with the Philippine Media
Published June 6, 2012 | Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel
6 June 2012
Posted in Foreign Trips Articles, President's Activities, Press Conferences | actvities, London, Media, UK, videosBusiness Meeting with Nestle
Published June 6, 2012 | Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel
6 June 2012
President Benigno S. Aquino III attended his last business meeting on the third day of his official visit to United Kingdom with the top executives of Nestle.
John Martin Miller (Chairman and CEO of Nestle Philippines, Inc.) and Nandu Nandkishore (Nestle S.A. Executive Vice President and Zone Director for Asia, Oceania, Africa and the Middle East) met with the President and some of his Cabinet members at the Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel.
Nestle Philippines, Inc. employs more than 3,200 people and is among the country’s top 10 corporations, as well as among the top companies in the Nestle world. It has currently five manufacturing facilities in the country located in Tanauan, Batangas; Cabuyao, Laguna; Cagayan de Oro; Lipa, Batangas; and Pulilan, Bulacan.
The company produces and markets its products ranging from coffee, milk, beverages, non-dairy creamer, food, infant nutrition, ice cream and chilled dairy, breakfast cereals, confectionery and pet care. Among its popular brands include Nescafe, Nido, Milo, Nestea, Maggi, Bear Brand, Nestle and Purina.
Nestle celebrated its 100 years in the Philippines in 2011.
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Luncheon hosted by FCO Minister Jeremy Browne, MP and the Lord Mayor of the City of London
Published June 6, 2012 | Lancaster House, London
6 June 2012
President Benigno S. Aquino III and the Philippine delegation were honored with a luncheon hosted by Her Majesty’s Government and presided by Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) Minister Jeremy Browne, MP and the Lord Mayor of the City of London Alderman David Wootton.
In his message delivered after Minister Browne’s welcome remarks, President Aquino said that a deep and strong bond exists between the people of the two countries, and that this has been reinforced through decades of interaction among its officials and peoples.
He added that there is great optimism about the Philippines and that the government intends to build on this optimism by providing an environment where investors can make a good profit under clear and consistent rules and regulations.
“Being one of our top European investors and the biggest source of tourists from Europe, we want the United Kingdom to take full advantage of what the Philippines offers: stable, value-for-money investment opportunities, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs),” President Aquino said.
The President takes pride in the fact that the quarter of a million Filipinos who live in the United Kingdom positively contribute to British society and its nation’s economy. He also appreciates the warm welcome extended to them by the British people.
FCO Minister Jeremy Browne, MP and the Lord Mayor of the City of London Alderman David Wootton visited the Philippines last December 2011 and May 2012, to reiterate Britain’s keen interest in the country’s economic and political developments.
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Luncheon hosted by FCO Minister Jeremy Browne, MP and the Lord Mayor of the City of London
Published June 6, 2012 | Lancaster House, London
6 June 2012
- Minister Jeremy Browne’s Welcome Remarks
- President Benigno Aquino III’s Response
Meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron
Published June 6, 2012 | 10 Downing Street, London
6 June 2012
President Benigno S. Aquino III and Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom met at 10 Downing Street on the final day of the President’s official visit to United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
With the theme “Rising Philippines, Strong Britain: Towards a New Era of Mutual Prosperity and Partnership,” the official visit provided an opportunity to reinvigorate the enduring partnership and productive cooperation between the two countries.
President Aquino conveyed his appreciation to Prime Minister Cameron for the warm hospitality and wonderful arrangements extended by the British government and people to him and the entire Philippine delegation. He also relayed the best wishes of the Filipino people to Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee.
The two leaders had a wide-ranging discussion on the two countries’ state of relationship and agreed to reinvigorate it in many areas through expanding commercial ties, promoting peaceful settlements of disputes, good governance, maritime cooperation, and strengthening international peace and security.
Both leaders were especially encouraged by the extensive economic relations between the two countries, with President Aquino emphasizing that the Philippines offers exciting investment opportunities for British business in energy, infrastructure, business process outsourcing (BPO), information technology and tourism.
President Aquino informed Prime Minister Cameron of the latest developments in the peace negotiations between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and recognized the United Kingdom’s continuing role as a founding and active member of the International Contact Group. For his part, the Prime Minister reiterated his country’s commitment to continue assisting in the Mindanao peace process through the sharing of lessons learned in the Northern Ireland peace process.
The two leaders welcomed the entry into force of the Philippines-United Kingdom Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) which was signed in London in September 2009. The MLAT facilitates information sharing and cooperation in law enforcement and judicial matters to address transnational crime including money laundering, trafficking of women and children, and illicit drug trafficking. The two leaders expressed hope that the Philippines-United Kingdom Extradition Treaty would also enter into force soon.
President Aquino also invited Prime Minister Cameron to be the first incumbent British leader to visit the Philippines.
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Posted in Foreign Trips Articles, President's Activities | activities, London, PM Cameron, UK, videosSigning of Agreements between the Department of Energy (DOE) and Shell
Published June 6, 2012 | Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel
6 June 2012
After the business meeting with Shell executives, President Benigno S. Aquino III witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Energy and Shell on the third day of his official visit to United Kingdom.
Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and Shell Companies in the Philippines Chairman Edgar Chua signed the MOU for the proposed LNG Receiving Facility Feasibility Studies.
It aims for the “mutual cooperation and coordination on the conduct of a technical feasibility study for the development, construction and operation by Shell of an LNG import and regasification terminal adjacent to the Shell refinery in Batangas City.”
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Business Meeting with Shell
Published June 6, 2012 | Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel
6 June 2012
President Benigno S. Aquino III started the third day of his official visit to United Kingdom by attending a business meeting with the executives of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, more commonly known as Shell, at the Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel.
The national government through the Department of Energy working together with Service Contract 38 Joint Venture Partners will be embarking on the next phase of development for Malampaya Deepwater Gas-to-Power project.
Phase 2 involves drilling and development of two additional wells by 2014 while Phase 3 involves the installation of a new platform where additional equipment and facilities will be housed by 2015.
Royal Dutch Shell Plc is the fifth largest company in the world and the second largest energy company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine. It is considered as one of the six oil and gas “Super Majors.”
Shell is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and has its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It has operations in over 90 countries including the Philippines and produces around 3.1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, and has 44,000 service stations worldwide.
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Briefing and Site Visit at St. Pancras International
Published June 5, 2012 | London, United Kingdom
5 June 2012
President Benigno S. Aquino III conducted a site visit at St Pancras International, the iconic terminus station on the high-speed rail, during the second day of his official visit to United Kingdom.
St Pancras International is one of the greatest interchange hubs in London and is extremely connected to 6 underground train lines. The station has 9 high-speed platforms (6 for international and 3 for domestic), 4 classic platforms, has 90,000 square feet of retail space and 324 car parking spaces.
The station is part of the High-Speed 1 railway between St Pancras in London and the Channel Tunnel, and connects with the international high-speed routes between London and Paris, and London and Brussels.
On January of this year, St Pancras International topped the Passenger Focus ‘National Passenger Survey’ as ‘Best Station’ wherein 95% of passengers surveyed said that its station facilities were satisfactory or above. This is the second year in a row that St Pancras International has topped the particular survey.
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Departure Statement for United Kingdom and the United States of America
Published June 4, 2012 | NAIA Terminal II, Pasay City
4 June 2012
Departure Ceremonies for United Kingdom and the United States of America
Published June 4, 2012 | NAIA Terminal 2, Pasay City
04 June 2012
President Benigno S. Aquino III left for his first official visit to the United Kingdom (June 4-6) and a working visit to the United States (June 6-10).
In London, the President is set to meet Prime Minister David Cameron and thank him in supporting Philippine economic development. He will also hold business meetings with leading British and European investors.
“Malawig po ang serbisyong maaaring maihatid ng Pilipinas sa mga investors na ito, lalo na sa larangan ng information technology at business process outsourcing, renewable energy, electronics at PPP projects,” the President said in his departure speech.
For his four-day working visit to Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, California, President Aquino will hold meetings with US President Barack Obama, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, business leaders and other government officials to discuss ways in deepening bilateral cooperation.
“Makakasiguro po kayo: sa pitong araw na pagbisita natin sa UK at US, kapakanan lamang ng sambayan ang pagtutuunan natin ng pansin,” he remarked.
Eight Cabinet members from the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Defense, Trade and Industry, Tourism, Transportation and Communications, Energy and the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office joined the President onboard.
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Interview with Ms. Dorothea J. Mendoza
Published June 4, 2012 | London, United Kingdom
3 June 2012
- Managing Director, Manila Supermarket Ltd.
Interview with Ms. Eleanor Sy Templeman
Published June 4, 2012 | London, United Kingdom
3 June 2012
- Filipino Women’s Association (FWA) U.K. Secretary
Interview with Ms. Nilda Resano
Published June 4, 2012 | London, United Kingdom
3 June 2012
- Education/ Personal Development / Publicity Writer of the Filipino Women’s Association (FWA) U.K. (1998-present)
Interview with Ms. Nievecitas Martin
Published June 4, 2012 | London, United Kingdom
3 June 2012
- Current Chairman of Filipino Women’s Association (FWA) U.K.
Interview with Dr. Remy Reyes
Published June 4, 2012 | London, United Kingdom
3 June 2012
- Filipino Women’s Association (FWA) U.K.
- 1st Chairman from 1988-1991
Interview with Mr. & Mrs. Felix and Tess Penas
Published June 4, 2012 | London, United Kingdom
4 June 2012
- Owner, Port of Manila Restaurant
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