Philippine Embassy in Jordan Marks MANA Mo 2023 with a Donation of Philippine Map

01 October 2023 - In celebration of Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo) this September 2023, the Philippine Embassy in Jordan, headed by His Excellency Ambassador Wilfredo C. Santos and Madame Geraldine C. Lucero-Santos, donated a Philippine map to the Pontifical Mission Library Center in Amman, Jordan.

In his remarks during the donation ceremony, Ambassador Santos highlighted the importance of the celebration of this year’s MANA Mo under the national theme "Kapuluan, Kabuluhan, Kaunlaran" (Archipelago, Significance, and Development), and DFA’s sub-theme: “Setting Sails Towards Sustainability: Ocean Science for Archipelagic Philippines”, as it underscores the essence of our archipelagic nation's unique identity and emphasizes the crucial role that our archipelago and its marine resources play in our journey toward sustainable development.

Ambassador Santos also highlighted that as an archipelagic nation, our country and all its islands are connected as one legal identity. MANA Mo initiatives such as donation of Philippine maps showing the West Philippine Sea (WP) endeavors to achieve unity of message and purpose, particularly raising national consciousness on maritime and archipelagic issues, as well as public appreciation of current maritime efforts of the Philippines. This activity also aims to promote public awareness and understanding, especially for the FIlipino community, of our country as a maritime nation and an archipelagic state and generate support for the country’s advocacies for a rules-based international maritime regime.

Around fifty (50) Filipino community members, including children, were present during the donation ceremony. Sr. Elisa Estrada and Sr. Amabel Sibug, both Filipinos and members of Teresian Association in Amman, accepted the Philippine map on behalf of the Pontifical Mission Library Center which they administer under the charity organization Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA). For decades, the Library has offered numerous programs to its close to a thousand regular visitors, including lending books and after-school workshops for children, teaching English to the locals and Arabic to expats, providing catechetical support, and offering pastoral care, psychological and social counseling to displaced families, migrant workers and refugees. These services are open to Christians and Muslims alike. It has also become a community center for Filipinos where they gather every Friday as they enjoy friendship and fellowship over a meal, followed by spiritual reflection led by the community’s chaplain, Rev. Fr. Gerard Joaquin Masangya. On top of it all, the Library is a place of education. The Teresian Sisters regularly conduct programs on a variety of topics including cultural and other issues beneficial for all. The display of Philippine map in the Library will surely serve as a means to deepen the understanding of the Philippines and its maritime heritage, for both Filipinos and local Jordanians.

Joining Ambassador Wilfredo Santos and Madame Geraldine Lucero-Santos during the donation ceremony were Third Secretary and Vice Consul Angeli Payumo, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Sheila Marie Andales, Administrative Officer and Attaché John Danilo Jiao Jr., and Cultural Officer and Attaché Elijah Ang-Encarnacion of the Philippine Embassy. END