Philippine Embassy in Laos

𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗭𝗢𝗡 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗩𝗜𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟'𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗬

In celebration of National Heritage Month in May, the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane welcomed students and teachers from Virathavone Secondary School on 29 May 2026 for a cultural learning activity featuring the Pahiyas Festival of Lucban,Quezon and the Mayohan Festival of Tayabas City.

In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Elizabeth T. Te highlighted the importance of preserving and promoting the Philippines' rich cultural heritage and traditions, noting that National Heritage Month serves as an opportunity to deepen appreciation for the customs, practices, and shared histories that shape Filipino identity.

The activity featured virtual presentations by Ms. Maria Jenifer L. Babat, Tourism Operations Officer of Lucban, Quezon, and Mr. Koko P. Pataunia, Supervising Tourism Operations Officer of Tayabas City, who introduced participants to two of Quezon Province's most celebrated cultural festivals.

Known for its colorful displays of kiping, fruits, vegetables, and agricultural produce adorning homes throughout the town, the Pahiyas Festival is a thanksgiving celebration honoring San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of farmers, and reflects the values of gratitude, creativity, and bayanihan. The Mayohan Festival, meanwhile, highlights Tayabas City's rich heritage, enduring faith, and strong sense of community.

Students and teachers actively participated in the discussion and gained insights into how local traditions, faith, agriculture, and community life continue to shape cultural identity in different parts of the Philippines. Participants also sampled suman, fried kiping, and tableya hot chocolate. An arangya ornament made of kiping and sourced from Lucban was displayed during the activity, while students received do-it-yourself kits to create their own arangya.

The activity provided an opportunity for exchanges between the Embassy and the participants, encouraging understanding and appreciation of Philippine culture among Lao youth.

𝗔 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬, 𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘, 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗙𝗨𝗡: 𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗬 𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗡'𝗦 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗗 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟

The Philippine Embassy in Vientiane joined Diamond International School's Children's Day celebration on 29 May 2026, supporting the school's Visit Asia cultural showcase organized by Grade 4 teacher Ms. Rozalien Sagario and her class.

As part of the activity, classrooms were transformed into Asian destinations, allowing students and their parents to "travel" across the region using passports that were stamped at each country-themed room. The initiative encouraged children and families to learn about the cultures, traditions, and peoples of Asia through interactive and hands-on experiences.

Representing the Embassy, Third Secretary Nonito S. Cabrera, Jr., together with Attaché Hannah Andione Benedicto and Interpreter/Translator Xaybandith Visounnarath, supported the Grade 4 class in hosting the Philippine destination.
Visitors explored a miniature Sari-Sari Store, watched tourism videos at the Jeepney Theater, participated in a Tinikling workshop, viewed a Filipino Doll Exhibit, and sampled Filipino delicacies such as biko and maja blanca.

The Embassy was pleased to contribute to this meaningful celebration of childhood, learning, and cultural diversity, while promoting greater awareness and appreciation of the Philippines among the school's international community.

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘰𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 (𝘋𝘐𝘚) 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭'𝘴 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗬 𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗠𝗘𝗞𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗨𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗡 𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗡

The Philippine Embassy in Vientiane participated in the Mekong Sub-Regional Dialogue on Climate Finance and Just Transition in ASEAN held on 26 May 2026 in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR.

In her opening remarks as the 2026 ASEAN Chairship representative, Ambassador Elizabeth T. Te noted the inclusion of climate security, disaster preparedness, sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and the promotion of a food-secure and climate-smart ASEAN among the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship strategic priorities. She underscored that climate finance is not simply about mobilizing resources, but also about safeguarding communities, strengthening resilience, and ensuring that ASEAN’s development remains sustainable, inclusive, and people-centered.

Discussions highlighted the importance of a “just transition” lens that shifts climate finance from carbon-only metrics to people, livelihoods, resilience and nationally defined development transformation. It was further underscored that for ASEAN, the strategic task is to build national and regional climate finance systems that move resources from global and regional sources into nationally-owned, socially just and locally grounded climate action.

The Dialogue was conducted under the ALAM (Advancing Learning and Capacities in the ASEAN on Mitigation: Financing a Just and Nature-Positive Energy Transition) Project, supported by the UK Mission to ASEAN through the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund (GTF), and implemented by a consortium composed of El Observatorio de Manila, Parabukas, The Samdhana Institute, and Core Group Transparency Timor-Leste.

𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗬 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗬𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗢 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗡 𝗟𝗔𝗢 𝗣𝗗𝗥

On 21 May 2026, the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane led by Ambassador Elizabeth T. Te welcomed the visit of Mr. Soukhasavanh Sanaphay, Deputy Director General of the Department of Asia-Pacific and Africa of the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Peregrino S. Resabal, President and Chief Operations Officer of Philippine-owned Paramina International, Inc., and Mr. Viengkhone Somsanith of the Vangtat Mining Group.

Mr. Resabal shared that Paramina International was awarded an underground development and production contract by Vangtat Gold Mine Sole Co., Ltd., and is in the process of deploying Filipino professionals and workers to southern Laos.

Ambassador Te welcomed the awarding of the contract to a Filipino company, and the planned deployment of Filipino professionals and workers as a positive development in expanding Philippine-Lao economic engagement and fostering stronger business and investment relations between the two countries. The initiative also highlights the recognized expertise and professionalism of Filipino workers in specialized industries abroad, including mining and technical services.

As part of the Embassy’s mandate, the Embassy’s Consular Section facilitated the processing of documentary requirements associated with the initiative.

𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗬 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗬 𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗙

The Philippine Embassy in Vientiane, led by Ambassador Elizabeth T. Te, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Bounleua Phandanouvong, Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, on 18 May 2026 in Vientiane.

During the meeting, Ambassador Te congratulated the Party on the outcomes of its 12th National Congress, including the adoption of the 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan and Vision 2055, and reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to supporting the Lao PDR through bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Te noted recent milestones in bilateral relations, including the convening of the 3rd Meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, the commercial operations of the Monsoon Wind Power Project in southern Laos, of which the Philippines’ ACEN Renewables has an economic stake, and the continued expansion of Philippine businesses in the Lao PDR. She further noted the recent completion of Philippine-supported projects implemented in partnership with Lao agencies and the United Nations.

Ambassador Te likewise welcomed the participation of Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and the Lao delegation in the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings held in Cebu on 7-8 May 2026 under the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship.
Both sides underscored the importance of sustained engagement and practical cooperation in advancing bilateral relations and ASEAN Community-building efforts.