Event | KJRI Hosted Hand-over of Passport and Special Non-Immigrant Visa to PIDs in Mindanao with Indonesia's Minister of Law and Human Rights

Just recently, the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Davao City has hosted a hand-over of passport and special non-immigrant visa 47 (a) (2) to Persons of Indonesian Descent (PIDs) in Mindanao with Prof Yasonna H. Laoly, S.H., M. Sc, Ph.D, the Minister of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia.

The event was simple yet very culturally alive!

The event commenced with the singing of the Indonesian national anthem then followed by a cultural dance known as "Tuwu Dance" from Nias, Sumatra, Indonesia which was performed by the students of Indonesian School of Davao. The event was also graced by the Indonesian Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary to the Philippines, concurrently the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau, H.E. Agus Widjojo, Consul General Dicky Fabrian and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights team. The Konsulat Jenderal Republik of Indonesia (KJRI) in Davao City staff, representatives of Indonesian citizens in Mindanao, local dignitaries such as Department of Foreign Affairs Mindanao, Commander of Easter Mindanao Command, Provincial Director of Philippine Regional Office XI, Chair of the Mindanao Development Authority, Chief State Counsel of the Department of Justice, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, foreign representative including Consul General of China, Malaysia and Japan.

Tuwu Dance Performed by the Indonesian School of Davao Students

Passports and Non-Immigrant Visa Received

This event was the product of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in 2014 wherein the government bodies of both Republic of Indonesia and Republic of the Philippines agreed to resolve the problems of nationals of descent in their respective regions. The agreement involves Persons of Indonesian Descent (PIDs) in Mindanao and Persons of the Philippines Descent (PPDs) in North Sulawesi and its surrounding.

ConGen Dicky Fabrian

The Philippine government through the Department of Justice, in cooperation with KJRI in Davao City and assistance of UNHCR Philippines, initiated a program namely registration and citizenship confirmation for 8,745 PIDs in Mindanao from 2016-2019.

According to KJRI in Davao City, a total of 1,259 passports for Registered Indonesian Nationals (RINs). A symbolic handover ceremony was held by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2018. A total of 835 RINs has received indorsement on special non-immigrant visa 47(a)(2) from the Department of Justice with a validity period of five (5) years.

The granting of passport and special non-immigrant visa is a form of providing protection by the state to its citizens, not only domestically but also Indonesians citizens abroad.

---

This event has also given me a chance to go around KJRI again; taste some authentic Indonesian food and appreciate authentic Indonesian artworks. Also, having been invited for the event, I am very happy to witness stronger ties between two countries helping each other to make people's lives better. Plus, economic ties will be strengthen, as well as, tourism will open post pandemic.

Congratulations for this successful event and thank you for visiting my avenue, www.ten7avenue.com!

Event | Strengthening the 70 Years Relationship between Indonesia and the Philippines

Part 1: Business-to-Business Forum

Business Delegates from Mindanao for the B-to-B Forum

The bilateral relations between Indonesia and the Philippines is at its 70^th year. With this long years of relationship, both countries are keeping the brotherhood and close ties, also as geographical neighbors, when it comes to tourism, food and trade. Thus, the Wonderful Indonesia: Tourism, Food and Trade Expo 2019, supported by Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), has been a venue for this step in strengthening the relationship of both countries.

Business Delegates from Indonesia for the B-to-B Forum

The Expo dated July 12-14, 2019 at SM Lanang Premier, J. P. Laurel Avenue, Davao City. Before the expo, a B-to-B (business-to-business) forum was conducted so that Indonesian business people will have a business matching with business people from the Southern Philippines. It was a great avenue for both parties as a number of Indonesian business people attended from the sectors of tourism, food and trade sector. It was also attended by a number of business people from the Southern Philippines.

ConGen Dicky Fabrian Giving Welcome Remarks

Mr. Nathaniel Dalumpines Giving Message of Support

The B-to-B forum was also graced by the Consul General of the Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia in Davao City, ConGen Dicky Fabrian; OIC Chairman of MinDA, Sir Nathaniel Dalumpines; President of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Inc., Mr. Art Milan; CEO of Reefer Express Line Filipinas, Mr. Felix Ishizuka; members of the diplomatic corp and friends from the media.

Mr. Felix Ishizuka Giving Updates on BIMP Plus Route

Mr. Felix Ishizuka gave wonderful updates about the initial results of the BIMP Plus route of the Reefer Express Line Filipinas. The route included shipping of goods coming from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam passing through Labuan and Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, then to Bitung, Indonesia and to Davao City, Philippines. Mr. Ishizuka was happy with the turn out of the route and asks the business sector to patronize the route to be sustainable. The route was indeed a game changer in the BIMP Plus region wherein goods were being transferred Southern Philippines few days earlier than having it shipped to Manila before going south.

Delegates Business Matching

Delegates Business Matching

The B-to-B forum was successful and both business delegates from Indonesia and Southern Philippines were happy!

Part 2: Wonderful Indonesia: Tourism, Food, Trade Expo 2019

Ribbon Cutting for the Expo 2019

The Expo started with a ribbon cutting with the Consul General Dicky Fabrian leading the group, together with the Ma’am Fera Andriani; Mr. Ricky Fauzi, Director of Marketing Regional III, Ministry of Tourism - Indonesia; Asec. Norman Garibay, DFA Mindanao; Mr. Nathaniel Dalumpines, OIC Chairman - MinDA; and Hon. Nilo Abellera, Davao City Councilor.

Captivating Garuda

One of the Cultural Dances Presented During the Expo

There were a lot of cultural presentations on stage the expo. It was very colorful and musical! The Garuda was also present in the expo that symbolizes the mythical bird of Indonesia. It was a very beautiful, elegant, colorful, and grandiose representation of Indonesia! The officials and staff of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia also gave a musical presentation using the angklung, an Indonesian instrument, and it was endearing to the ears.

Consulate Officials and Staff Presentation Using the Angklung

Several tenants were present in the Expo 2019 that ranges from many different travel agencies from Indonesia and the Philippines, variety of food choices coming from Indonesia and an opportunity to tie up with some business people from the Southern Philippines.

Prize Ship from Wonderful Indonesia

The 3-day event was also packed with so much surprises. There were games and interview portions wherein guests were given tokens from the Wonderful Indonesia. I also luckily received a prize after winning a game. I suddenly owned a ship! Thank you, Wonderful Indonesia!

Thank you for visiting my avenue, www.ten7avenue.com!

Travel | Wonderful Indonesia’s Sales Mission: First in Davao City!

People Behind the Sales Mission in Davao City

Recently, the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia brought eight (8) tour agents and tour operators from North Sulawesi (Sulut) and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) to promote different tourist destinations from those regions. It is the first time that the sales mission went to Davao City after a round of sales mission in Manila. With this activity, every one is excited and hope to revive the direct flight from Davao City, Philippines to Manado, Indonesia.

Indonesia Cultural Dance

This year the Ministry of Tourism targets to have 17 million visitors all over the world.The Phillippines, as a neighbor, friend and brother country, the ministry targets 180,000 visitors. With much love, as of October this year, Filipino visitors have reached 179,600 or that is 99.8% of the target. That is such a very promising number and hopefully it will increase more.

As of the moment, there are three airlines flying from the Philippines to Indonesia, to wit: 1) the Philippine Airlines, 2) Cebu Pacific and 3) AirAsia. The destinations covered by these airlines are Manila-Jakarta and Manila-Denpasar routes. Most interests of Filipino visitors in Indonesia include vacation, shopping and culinary tours. Most visited places of Filipinos are Jakarta, Bali and Batam.

ConGen Napitupulu Giving a Speech

With the leadership of ConGen. Berlian Napitupulu of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Davao City, the sales mission has been made possible in Davao City. There are a lot input that ConGen Napitupulu has given to the guests, especially on exploring potentials to make the air linkage sustainable in the future. He also added that the sales mission is made to create market, create trade and create reason to travel. As such, there could  be events that will exchange professionals, exchange of sport events, exchange of youth and exchange of students. In which, one example that ConGen has highlighted was the presence of a good medical school in Davao City wherein 1200 students from India have enrolled. He added that why not for Indonesians? Davao City is nearer to Manado compare to bringing the students to farther places and more expensive. Aside from that, ConGen has shared that in two (2) years they have participated nineteen (19) expos and six (6) of which are solo expos organized by the consulate. These promotional activities are done to make long term deals.

Deputy Director Pelitasari Giving Updates

Together with ConGen Napitupulu is the Deputy Director of Promotion for the Philippines and Sulawesi, Mrs. Afrida Pelitasari. She has shared that they have a challenging target for next year that is to have 260,000 Filipino visitors. However, she is hopeful with their five (5) marketing strategy approach to strengthen engagement, to wit: 1) travel mart, 2) fam trip (family or friends trip), 3) sales mission (which is the recent event), 4) Indonesia festival and 5) integrated marketing program with the cooperation between the Ministry of Tourism and airlines, as well as, opening of new air routes.

Table Top Sessions for Tour Familiarization

Consul Endah with Raffle Winners

Indeed, the sales mission is a very exciting event which hopes to bring a fruitful future between the Philippines and Indonesia, especially in Davao City. There are cultural shows made by Indonesian dancers, play of tourism promotional ad campaign videos, also a healthy discussion of tour agents and tour operators from Indonesia with Davao tour operators in exploring possible cooperation and one of the most awaited part is the raffle of Indonesian made items and tour packages.

Winners of Tour Packages All-Expense Paid

Terima Kasih, Indonesia! I hope and pray that the Davao-Manado route will be revived and made sustainable in the future. For further information, visit: www.indonesia.travel.

Thank you for visiting my avenue, www.ten7avenue.com.

Event | Indonesia at a Glance with the ConGen at the Indonesian Consulate

It is a pleasant day in Davao City. The Consul General of the Indonesian Consulate, ConGen Berlian Napitupulu, has invited friends from the local media and social media to taste some food, witness and hear great things about Indonesia. The event, for me, is a realization and an envy.

ConGen Napitupulu with Ian Garcia at the Media Briefing

Indonesia and the Philippines are both members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Other countries included in the ASEAN are Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Timor Leste is also part of the Southeast Asia region but not yet part of the ASEAN, hopefully very soon. Aside from this group, which has celebrated a golden year last year, Indonesia and the Philippines are part of an economic cooperation known as Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area or BIMP-EAGA. Basically, the nearest ASEAN neighbors the Philippines has are from the BIMP. To exchange trades with them is really a very good way of getting along with our neighbors, especially with Indonesia, which is the largest economy in the region and among the top ten (10) largest economies in the world.

Bottom to Top: 

First things first, the invitation is at lunch time, and the best way to experience Indonesian hospitality is served with some Indonesian dishes. They have served the 1) padang sauce shrimp, 2) famous beef rendang, 3) tumis mix vegetables, 4) chicken satai, 5) shrimp chips and 6) fruits. It is indeed a very wonderful start. It has some similarities with Filipino food and all yet delicious!

Aside from the lunch being served, there are some tasty, great and exotic snack items served to taste. Yes, there are variety of snack items like the pang-pang, ping-ping, teng-teng, ting-ting, tong-tong, salak, durian pancake, my fave teh tarik drink and passion fruit juice! It isn’t hard to memorize the names at all! :-p

Variety of snack items

Salak and other snack items (sorry, I forgot the names)

Teh Tarik

Actually, I am marveled with the industries present in Indonesia. There’s a lot! Yes, a lot! There are many products from Indonesia that is in the Philippines right now that ranges from wellness and grooming products, food and beverage items, automobile, construction materials and many more. They have a number of industries that make their economy afloat and really one of the largest in the world. That’s one of the things I envy about Indonesia, I wish we have much industries like theirs. It is also a very inspiring thing that Indonesia is reaching out to neighboring countries like ours wherein they are pretty willing to impart their culture and expand their presence to connect more people from the Philippines to Indonesia and vice versa. ConGen Napitupulu has been proactive in doing so and with that, the Indonesian Consulate will be conducting a Food and Beverage Expo this coming June 2018 here in the city at a mall. Aside from that, their Trade Expo Indonesia on October 2018 invites business people to invest in Indonesia.

There’s more of Indonesia! Like the Philippines, Indonesia is an archipelago but they are the world’s largest group of islands. They have rich natural beauty and culture that is preserved and ready to face the world - like Medan! This is again a thing to emulate - preservation of rich culture to attract visitors.

Garuda at the Indonesian Consulate

Indonesia may not be a huge English-speaking country, but they have managed their huge industries to be around the region and the globe. They may not be among the countries with top numbers of business process outsourcing companies, but they are among the top economies in the world. Yes, that’s Indonesia! We can learn from them and learn from each other. :-)

Thank you for visiting my avenue, www.ten7avenue.com.