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WELCOME

December 2014

Dear readers,

The closing year has been a remarkable one for the Philippines and Swiss-Philippine relations. And if it’s ending on a high note is an omen for 2015, we’re in for a treat. What am I referring to?

After threatening the archipelago with Yolanda-like calamity, typhoon Hagupit fortunately made landfall with much less ferocity than anticipated.

At the same time, the extensive preparations arranged by the government as well as individuals fortunately limited the casualties and damages to much lower levels than during the Yolanda calamity a year earlier. I express my sincere condolences to everyone who lost a loved one. At the same time, I would like to congratulate the Philippine government, the local governments and all affected communities for their readiness and vigilance.

It shows the progress made in disaster risk reduction and preparedness, and augurs well for continued improvements and reduced loss of life and property when “the new normal” of natural disasters will affect the Philippines in the future. I’m also proud that the Swiss government and even more so the Swiss public back home as well as here in the Philippines so generously and emphatically showed its solidarity with the victims of typhoon Yolanda. Moreover, the Swiss-Philippine partnership in organizing the ASEM Manila Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in June this year resulted in the “Post-Haiyan Tacloban Declaration”, which galvanizes the international community’s commitment to help disaster prone countries in their challenge to increase their resilience and to cope with the brunt of natural calamities.

A positive note for the closing year also chimed when the Philippine government and the member states of the European Free Trade Area EFTA, of which Switzerland is a member, agreed to embark on negotiations for a free trade agreement. The first round of talks will take place in Manila in March next year already. The fact that the Philippines decided to choose EFTA as its first partner outside the Asia-Pacific region to negotiate a free trade agreement clearly reflects the robust economic relations and the mutual trust and confidence. Finally, we were greatly relieved in early December to rescue the Swiss national who managed to escape his Abu Sayyaf captors after a kidnapping ordeal on Sulu Island that lasted for more than 1000 days. He is now reunited with his family in Switzerland where they will again be able to celebrate Christmas together. Our thoughts are with them but also with his Dutch friend, who remains in the Abu Sayyaf’s captivity. We hope for him and his family that he also will soon be released safely.

Even if the positive ending of the old year creates expectations, predicting the new year is of course a risky endeavor. Nevertheless, the January visit to the Philippines of Pope Francis will be an uplifting start to 2015 for everyone in the Philippines whose lives he will touch. From the Embassy’s side, we are confident that Switzerland’s excellent relations with the Philippines will continue to grow and strengthen. We will continue to offer our services for the Swiss community here in our host country as well as those compatriots visiting the Philippines. And we do so with all our many partners, whom I would like to thank for their important and untiring support: The Swiss Club Manila as well as the Swiss clubs and associations in the other parts of the country, the Philippine Swiss Business Council, the Swiss Benevolent Society, and all other partners and individuals that contribute to make the Swiss-Philippine relationship what it is today. I wish all of the individuals behind these organizations as well as their families a wonderful Christmas season and for the New Year that it will be happy, successful and that the expectations raised by the remarkable ending of 2014 will even be surpassed

Ivo Sieber Ambassador of Switzerland to the Philippines

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BILATERAL RELATIONS

(L-R) Mr. Jonathan Sisson (TJRC Senior Advisor), Atty. Ishak Mastura (TJRC Member), His Excellency, Ambassador Ivo Siber, Madame Mo Bleeker (TJRC Chair), Mr. Mohagher Iqbal (MILF Peace Panel Chair), Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer (GPH Peace Panel Chair), Atty. Cecilia Jimenez-Damary (TJRC Member)

Opening of the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development, Asia-Pacific Regional Review Conference held on October 8th and 9th in Manila, from left to right: Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber, Deputy Executive Secretary at Office of the President, Teofilo Pilando Jr., DFA Assistant Secretary Jesus (Gary) Domingo, UNDP Country Director Maurice Dewulf

VIPs and speakers of the Disaster Response Dialogue – Manila pose for a group picture at the Manila Hotel

Switzerland chairs the "Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC)” under the “Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)"

During their meeting on the implementation of the “Normalization Annex” to the CAB held in Kuala Lumpur from 27 to 29 September 2014, the panel chairs of the Government of the Philippines GRP and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front MILF announced the establishment of the “Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission TJRC”. The Commission will be chaired by Mô Bleeker, Special Envoy of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and Head of the “Task Force for Dealing with the Past and the Prevention of Atrocities”. Having accepted the invitation of the two parties to chair the TJRC, Switzerland is fully involved in the peace process.

The Geneva Declaration Regional Review Conference

On October 8th & 9th International and local experts attended the Geneva Declaration Regional Review Conference which looked into the thematic “Ending Armed Violence for Peace & Development”. This well attended conference jointly organized by UNDP, the Geneva Declaration Secretariat, The DFA, Office of the President and the center for Peace Education Miriam college was also timely for the Philippines where arms reduction is a very actual topic notably within its process of arms reduction. This Conference was sponsored by the Switzerland.

Disaster Response Dialogue Conference in Manila

The Disaster Response Dialogue (DRD) convened a global conference in Manila (October 13-14) on the theme “Improving trust and cooperation for more effective humanitarian responses.” The conference was hosted by the Philippine Government, in partnership with Switzerland, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Council

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BILATERAL RELATIONS cont.

In photo: H.E. Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber welcomes the participants of the Nansen Initiative’s 4th Regional Consultation at the opening ceremony. Panelists from left to right: Hon. Jesus “Gary” Domingo, Assistant Secretary, Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Hon. Jesus Yabes, Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs, DFA, H.E. Ambassador Thomas Ossowski, Embassy of Germany in Manila, Nansen Initiative Steering Group Member, Atty. Jaime Hofileña, Vice-President for Social Development, Ateneo de Manila University

of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) chaired by Australia.

The DRD, initiated in 2011 by Switzerland through its Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the IFRC, ICVA and OCHA, brings together governments and humanitarian organizations involved in international disaster response to improve trust and mutual cooperation. It envisions a world where national, regional and international disaster response actors work effectively together, so that affected populations receive timely and effective humanitarian assistance, on the basis of their needs and with respect to human dignity.

The Conference was an opportunity to share lessons and best practices from a range of recent disaster responses, including the 2013 response to Typhoon Haiyan, and to identify and agree on a set of concrete recommendations for more inclusive, principled and effective humanitarian responses. The outcome of the Conference will make an important contribution to the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit and other relevant processes, including the Nansen Initiative’s South-East Asia Regional Consultation from 15–17 October in Manila, which is organized back to back with the DRD. Launched in October 2012 by the Governments of Switzerland and Norway, the Nansen Initiative is a state-led, bottom-up consultative process intended to build consensus on the development of a protection agenda addressing the needs of people displaced across international borders by natural hazards, including the effects of climate change.

Nansen Initiative Regional Consultations in Manila

The Nansen Initiative was launched in October 2012 by the Governments of Switzerland and Norway. Named after the renowned Norwegian scientist, arctic explorer, diplomat and first high Commissioner for Refugees, Fridtiof Nansen, it is a state-led, bottom-up consultative process intended to build consensus on the development of a protection agenda addressing the needs of people displaced across international borders by natural hazards, including the effects of climate change.

Every year around the world, millions of people are forcibly displaced by natural disasters. Many find refuge within their own country but some have to go abroad. In the context of climate change, such movements are likely to increase. National and international responses to this challenge are insufficient and protection for affected people remains inadequate. In view of this protection gap, there is a need for an inter-governmental process to address the challenges of cross-border

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BILATERAL RELATIONS cont.

Participants of the Nansen Initiative’s 4th Regional Consultation include representatives from states, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, civil society, academic institutions and other key actors. The Consultation took place from October 15 -17 at the Manila Hotel. The overall objectives of the consultation are to learn more about displacement and human mobility dynamics in the region, identify the region’s specific challenges related to disasters and displacement, and develop concrete, practical, policy and programmatic outcomes to enhance the region’s overall preparedness and response to these challenges.

displacements in the context of disasters and the effects of climate change.

Switzerland and the Philippines to facilitate the Exchange of Professional Trainees

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz and Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber signed on 14 November 2014 the technical guidelines for the implementation of the Swiss-Philippine Agreement on the Exchange of Professional Trainees. The so-called “Trainee Agreement” signed in 2003 enables the exchange of young Filipino and Swiss trainees to pursue their professional experience in the other country.

The Technical Guidelines signed by Secretary Dimapilis-Baldoz and Ambassador Sieber were developed with the aim to improve and facilitate the implementation of the Agreement on the Exchange of Professional Trainees signed in 2003. “Today’s adoption of the Technical Guidelines is a significant step, which will further clarify the modalities of the Swiss-Philippine Trainee Agreement” said Ambassador Sieber. Noting that the Trainee Agreement was an innovative instrument for young professionals from both countries to develop their skills and at the same time broaden their personal and cultural experience, he added that “with the signing of these Guidelines an important milestone towards the full implementation of the Trainee Agreement could be achieved”.

Intending to further utilize the potential of the Swiss-Philippine Trainee Agreement, a Joint Technical Working Group was created by the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment and the Swiss Federal Office for Migration in December 2010. Its mission was to elaborate technical guidelines on the implementation of the Agreement and to facilitate the procedures for the exchange of trainees. The signed Guidelines aim at facilitating the deployment of trainees and to provide all needed information for future trainees and employers from both countries.

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BUSINESS AFFAIRS

Members of the Swiss Business Delegation with Philippine Government officials and Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber, at the Philippine Board of Investments: (L-R) Ms. Caroline Kaufmann, Mr. Andreas Lehmann, Mr. Andreas Wettstein, Ambassador Ivo Sieber, DTI Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo, Jr., Dr.Urs Lustenberger, Ambassador of the Philippines to Switzerland H. E. Leslie Baja, Ms.Barbara Möckli-Schneider, Mr. Jose Camacho

Members of the Swiss Business Delegation with officials from the Philippine Swiss Business Council (PSBC), the Swiss Embassy and Swiss firm FRANKE Food Service Philippines during a plant visit there: (behind) Mr. Andreas Lehmann, Mr. Andreas Wettstein, Swiss Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Raoul Imbach, Dr. Peter Zuellig, Dr.Urs Lustenberger, Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland H. E. Leslie Baja, and Franke Sales Director for Asia Pacific Mr. Stephan Andreas Muller (in front) Franke Purchasing & Planning Manager Ms. Beth Maceda, Ms. Caroline Kaufmann, Franke Head of Finance Josephine Ramos and PSBC Chair Ms. Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury

Swiss Business Delegation visits Manila in November Buttressing the inaugural meeting of the Swiss-Philippine Joint Economic Commission (JEC) in Manila last June, a Swiss business delegation to the Philippines, led by the Zürich-based Swiss-Asian Chamber of Commerce (SACC), visited Manila and Cebu from 12-16 November 2014. Making up said delegation were SACC President Dr. Urs Lustenberger (also representing his firm Lustenberger Attorneys at Law), SACC Secretary General Ms. Barbara Möckli-Schneider, Swiss Import Promotion Program (SIPPO) Head Ms. Caroline Kaufmann, Touchstone Ventures CEO Mr. Jose Camacho, Parazelsus Ltd. CEO Dr. Peter Zuellig, Agility 3 GmbH CEO Mr. Andreas Wettstein, and WRC International CEO Mr. Andreas Lehmann. Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland, H. E. Leslie Baja, flying in from Berne for the occasion, accompanied the Swiss delegation during said visit. In Manila, the delegates held discussions with the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) via a Business Forum especially organized by the Board of Investments (BOI) and hosted by DTI Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo, Jr. The delegates also met with the Philippine-Swiss Business Council (PSBC), led by its Chair, Ms. Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury, the Embassy of Switzerland headed by Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber, and several Philippine company representatives during one-on-one business meetings. A factory visit to Laguna-based Swiss firm Franke Food Service Philippines was also undertaken before the delegates flew to Cebu, where they met with selected Cebu-based companies as well as the Philippine-Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

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L-R: Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber, Mrs. Gracita Sieber, DKSH President Ms.Pat Cortez, Convergys CEO Ms. Marife Zamora, SGV CEO Ambassador Delia Albert, SGS Philippines CEO Ms. Rosario Cajucom Bradbury, and Primer Group of Companies Vice President Mr. Darwin Bañez (not in photo: Air Asia CEO Ms. Maan Hontiveros)

Representatives of the PSBC Board, other Swiss firms and the Swiss Embassy (L-R): Luis Mendez, PSBC Vice Chair and President/ Komodo Teak; Edith de Leon, PSBC Board Director and Senior Vice President/ Nestlé Philippines; Melanie Zoref, Trade Officer/Swiss Embassy Manila; Reiner Gloor, PSBC Board Director; Christine Fajardo, Corporate Affairs Director/Novartis Philippines; Pat Cortez, PSBC Board Director and President/DKSH Philippines; Marino Castaño, Philippine Rep/Glencore Xstrata; Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury, PSBC Chair and CEO/ SGS Philippines; and Benjamin Los Baños, PSBC Board Director and Corporate Communications Manager/SGS Philippines

Victorinox launches its VICTORIA Luggage Line Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber was Guest of Honor at the November 13 launch of Victorinox’s VICTORIA luggage line in Manila, last 13 November at the New World Hotel. The luggage launch, co-hosted by the Primer Group of Companies (sole distributor of Victorinox luggages in the Philippines) and the Philippine-Swiss Business Council (PSBC), celebrated women leadership in the country by paying tribute to 5 selected Filipino Women CEOs, two of whom are heading Swiss companies operating in the country –Ms. Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury, PSBC Chair and CEO of SGS Philppines, and Ms. Pat Cortez, President of DKSH Philippines. The three others honored by Victorinox that night were Convergys CEO Ms. Marife Zamora, SGV CEO Ambassador Delia Albert, and Air Asia CEO Ms. Maan Hontiveros. The event, definitely not only for women, was graced by Mr. Washington Sycip, representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry, the business community, media and the SACC Swiss Business Delegation visiting Manila during that time. EFTA-PHILIPPINES FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (FTA) During the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Ministerial meeting held in Geneva last November, the Philippine delegation led by USEC Adrian Cristobal and the EFTA Ministers looked forward to the conclusion of the scoping exercise, which has been taking place during the last few months, to evaluate the potential of a free trade agreement. The parties agreed that the first round of FTA negotiations between the Philippines and the EFTA countries (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) would take place in Manila on February 23, 2015.These negotiations mark a further strengthening of the bilateral trade relations between Switzerland and the Philippines, which hopefully will attract more Swiss companies to do business in the country, and reciprocally give the Philippines more opportunities to export to Switzerland.

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CONSULAR AFFAIRS

SwissCommunity.org - The virtual club of international Switzerland Did you know that there is a dedicated online network for Swiss people worldwide? At SwissCommunity.org, Swiss abroad all over the globe establish and maintain relationships with one another and benefit from a comprehensive range of services. It has never been easier to find your feet abroad in the company of fellow nationals. In various discussion forums members have the opportunity to exchange information and views and to participate in the political and social debates taking place in their homeland. Alongside the usual community features, SwissCommunity.org also offers reliable information on Swiss politics, business and culture, on Swiss cantons and on Swiss embassies and consulates abroad. Members further profit from a broad package of other services, such as attractive special offers from partners of SwissCommunity.org, an exclusive online magazine, the e-paper of “Swiss Review”, invitations to Swiss events, the latest information from their home canton and much more besides. SwissCommunity.org is enjoying ever increasing popularity and now boasts more than 31,000 members. It is no coincidence that many diplomats and journalists are impressed with the platform and use it regularly for their work. You, too, should join this international Swiss club and play a crucial role in promoting the interests of the Swiss abroad in your native Switzerland! We look forward to welcoming you soon to SwissCommunity.org! www.swisscommunity.org SwissCommunity.org was created by the Organization of the Swiss Abroad (OSA), actively involved for the Swiss worldwide since 1916.

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CULTURAL EVENTS

Swiss Films at the Cine Europe 17 SISTER of Ursula Meier and PLANET OCEAN a documentary produced under the sponsorship of Omega were the two Swiss films presented this year at the Ciné Europa 17. The film festival started in Manila on September 11 and then continued across the Philippines. After Manila the Swiss films were also shown alternatively in Baguio, Iloilo, Cebu, Leyte, Tacloban, Davao, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro. In Zamboanga Switzerland was chosen to open the Festival with the film Sister.

Rizal Celebrated in Switzerland On the occasion of the 58th anniversary of Philippine-Swiss relations, a bust of Dr Jose Rizal was unveiled at Steinbruch Antonini, Wassen, Canton Uri. The stones for the base supporting the bust came from the same quarry that produced the ones used for the base and obelisk of the Rizal monument in Manila

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CULTURAL EVENTS cont.

Eliane Amherd Performing at Rizal Park Open Auditorium for the closing of Swiss Week Philippines

Swiss Week in the Philippines

The EDSA Shangri-La, Manila and the Swiss Embassy brought Swiss gourmet food and culture to Manila for ten days from Nov. 13 to 23. During that time 10 Switzerland related events took place in the city. Swiss food and wine were of course part of the festivities thanks to our two gourmet Chefs Martin Kaspar and Thomas Wenger and Säntis Delicatessen which sponsored a Swiss “Art of Wine” cocktail. The guests of the Swiss buffets at hangri-La Heat restaurant were entertained by the Swiss Yodeling Ladies, Madlen Niederberger and Margrit Müller. The Philippines - Swiss Business Council Exhibited it coffee table book “Bangon” showing the good practices in the field of Corporate responsibility of major Swiss Companies active in the Philippines while Swiss Education Group organized an alumni cocktail. Invited Artist Eliane Amherd delighted audiences around town with her top notch performances.

Much appreciation goes to the sponsoring members of the Swiss Cultural Fund Philippines -Nestlé, Bühler, Ferring, SGS, SIKA, Swatch and Werdenberg; and to Presence Suisse, Swiss Air, the Philippine Swiss Business Council (PSBC), National Park Development Council, Santis Delicatessen, and Murphy's Pub & Grill.

Swiss Week in the Philippines concludes with Concert at the Park

Swiss Week Philippines closed with a concert by all the performers active in the festival: Eliane Amherd, The Yodel Ladies and Raoul & the Wild Tortillas. The concert took place at the Rizal Park Open Air Auditorium where a crowd of a thousand people enjoyed a variety of Swiss music genre in a colorful blend of jazz, yodel and rock pop.

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Madlen Niederberger and Margrit Müller captivated the Filipino audience with their professional yodling at Rizal Park

Filipino public enjoying the Swiss Week Philippines concert

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OTHER EVENTS

Swiss Tourism in the Philippines

Swiss Tourism Southeast Asia, Pacific & Greater China Sales Director, Aditya Khullar and Southeast Asia Director Ivan Breiter visited the Philippines from Nov 15 - 17. Together with SWISS International Airline director, Paul Schenk, and Mrs. Juliana Gan, representative of Rail Europe they promoted Switzerland as a top destination during events specially organized for to the media and well known tour operators.

Switzerland Tourism is Switzerland’s official tourism promotion agency. In 2013, tourists from the Philippines spent 25’000 hotel nights while travelling in Switzerland, up 15% from the previous year. Further information can be found at: www.myswitzerland.com

International Bazaar 2014

The Swiss booth at the 48th International Bazaar 2014 on Sunday, 16 November at the PICC Forums was once again one of the high seller booths of the Bazaar. It offered its famous Swiss chocolates, cheeses and other Swiss goodies. The good level of sales allowed the Swiss booth to generate a very generous contribution to charities organizations selected as this year’s bazaar donation recipients. A special thank goes to Säntis Delicatessen for providing the merchandises and its staff as well as to all the volunteers of the Embassy for assisting in the sales.

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OTHER EVENTS cont.

The members of the Board of Trustees of the Swiss Benevolent Foundation Philippines (SBFP), from left: Markus Ruckstuhl, Veronique Baeriswyl, Hans Bruman, Daniel Brunner (President), Michel Miloda (Ex-Officio Member representing the Swiss Club), Reiner Gloor (Treasurer), Hans-Peter Fitze (Ex-Officio Member representing the Swiss Embassy in Manila). Not in photo: Rolf Noll

Embassy’s Donation to the SBFP

In an informal ceremony, the Swiss Embassy in Manila reaffirmed its support for the Swiss Benevolent Foundation in the Philippines (SBFP) with a contribution of PHP 100,000. The check was handed over to SBFP President Daniel Brunner (left, in first picture) by the Swiss Embassy’s Consul Hans-Peter Fitze. The Embassy’s contribution to SBFP, established in 1925, will assist Swiss citizens in need. Swiss Benevolent foundations are active in all continents, with focus on countries that have sizable resident Swiss communities.

The Swiss Embassy in Manila on Facebook The Swiss Embassy in Manila has been on Facebook since June 2014, and has recently hit the milestone of 1000 Likes! With the aim of conveying a multi-faceted and authentic image of Switzerland and its foreign policy, we share information on the work we do, give updates on Swiss-related events, and provide advice on Consular matters. At the same time, the Embassy will tap Facebook in case of emergencies, particularly in the provision, of instructions to Swiss citizens and locating them in the event of disasters. Everybody who takes an interest in Swiss affairs is welcome to visit us on our Facebook page and to communicate and give comments. Like us now on www.facebook.com/SwissEmbassyManila!