The Latvia Chronicles

A friend recommended me to visit Riga City in Latvia in 1993 and asked me if I would be interested to be an Honorary Consul of Latvia to the Philippines on the condition that I have an endorsement from a well-known personality in the government or private sector as my reference. I was fortunate to have the endorsement of then Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Raul Manglapus, and when the Latvian government received a copy of the endorsement, they exclaimed “This is fantastic!” I then flew to Riga via Moscow in 1993 with Annette Ablan, my good friend and adopted sister. On October 7, 1994, I was appointed as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Latvia. On January 3, 1995, the Philippine government, through DFA Secretary Roberto Romulo, presented to me my “Exequatur” for the Philippines, formally accepting the appointment of the Republic of Latvia.

After receiving my appointment during the time of President Fidel Ramos, my good friend Ambassador of Mexico Luis Coca Alvarez offered to host me a cocktail dinner to formally introduce me to the diplomatic corps as Latvia’s Consul General to the Philippines. We invited my endorser, Lakas NUCD-UMDP President and former DFA Sec. Raul Manglapus and his son, Raulito, to attend the celebration in Ambassador Alvarez’s residence in Dasmariñas Village. Among the attendees were former President Diosdado Macapagal and his wife Eva, ambassadors, honorary consuls and businessmen.

Since my appointment, I would travel to Latvia every two years for a worldwide Honorary Consuls’ meeting with various department heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade and Ministry of Culture and the Arts. We had cocktails with the President, luncheon with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and dinner with the Prime Minister. We also had tours to different destinations in Latvia and met with members of various chambers of commerce. In 2017, the Republic of Latvia appointed another Honorary Consul to the Philippines for Cebu — Frederick Go, president of Robinsons Land. At present, I am an Honorary Consul General to the Philippines. Every year, the number of Latvians coming to the Philippines is increasing, thanks to digital technology which makes it easier and faster to promote the country. Through endorsements, more Latvians visit the beautiful destinations in the Philippines, such as Cebu, Dumaguete, Boracay, Siargao, Bicol and the Mountain Province.

As Honorary Consul, we send annual reports of our activities, such as giving endorsements and assistance in marriages, repatriations, driver’s license, accidents, deaths and issuance of emergency travel documents. Through the years, we have been promoting Latvia through various media, tourism and trade associations, and attending activities that require our presence.