23 June 2010

Minamahal kong mga Kababayan:

Nais kong magpasalamat sa inyong pagtangkilik sa ating mga

pagdiriwang ng ika-112 taon ng Pagpapahayag ng Ating Kasarinlan nitong
buwan ng Hunyo:
 Philippine Food Festival on 1-7 June 2010 at Season’s Restaurant,
Centrepoint Hotel
 Flag Hoisting Ceremony and Prayer for the Nation on 12 June 2010 at
the Philippine Embassy Grounds
 Lecture on The Philippine Experience on Bishops-Ulama Conference
and Interfaith Dialogue by the Most Reverend Fernando R. Capalla,
Archbishop of Davao, on 12 June 2010 at the Philippine Embassy
 Thangksgiving Mass on 13 June 2010 at the Church of Our Lady of the
Assumption
 Gathering with Filipino Community Leaders on 13 June 2010 at the
Philippine Embassy and
 Diplomatic Reception on 16 June 2010.

Nagpapasalamat din ako sa inyong pag-unawa sa ating pagpasyang hindi

ituloy ang ating Independence Day Dinner Ball noong ika-13 ng Hunyo at Filipino
Get-Together nong ika-20 ng Hunyo. Ang Brunei Darussalam po ay nagpalabas
ng pagpapahayag na ipagliban o iwasan ang pagdaraos ng mga kasiyahan sa
buwan at panahon ng Rejab , Syaban at Syawal o mula ika-13 ng Hunyo
hanggang ika-17 ng Septyembre. Bilang mga bisita at pansamantalang
naninirahan sa Brunei Darussalam, nais nating ipakita ang ating paggalang sa
kanilang batas at alituntunin.

As you are aware, I end my tour of duty in Brunei Darussalam on 30 June

2010. Over the past 11 months:

 We built on activities to promote agricultural cooperation, particularly

through the signing of the Philippines-Brunei Darussalam Implementing
Arrangement on Rice Research and Development in November 2009;

 We sustained ongoing bilateral initiatives in defense and armed forces

cooperation, notably through the deployment of additional RBAF peace
monitors in the International Monitoring Team (IMT) to Mindanao in April
2010;

 We started construction of the Philippine Chancery in April 2010;

 We paved the way for the approval of Cebu Pacific’s operations in Brunei
Darussalam; and
  We instituted procedural changes to better manage and maximize the
Embassy’s resources while still responding to the needs of the Filipino
community.

a. First, revised office hours effective December 2009

b. Second, a more systematic schedule for releasing documents
c. Third, a dress code for Embassy visitors
d. Fourth, a new set of consular fees.
e. Five, real-time application for an e-passport.
f. And six, a new chancery by 2011.

We recognize the close partnership between the Philippine Embassy and

the Filipino community in Brunei Darussalam. Ang akin pong panunungkulan sa
inyo at sa ating bayan bilang embahador sa bansang Brunei Darussalam ay
magwawakas sa katapusan ng buwang ito. Taos puso akong nagpapasalamat
sa inyong malugod na pagtanggap sa akin at sa inyong mahusay at
kapakipakinabang na pakikipagtulungan sa akin at sa buong embahada sa
panahon ng aking panunungkulan. Ito po ay naging sanhi upang mapadali ang
aking pagganap sa mga nakaatas kong gawain. Kabahagi po kayo sa lahat ng
tagumpay at katuparan ng mga proyekto at programa ng Embahada.

Hinihiling ko po sa inyong lahat na patuloy ninyong suportahan at

patnubayan ang ating Embahada bilang patotoo na buhay pa ang kinagawian
nating tradisyon na Bayanihan. Sana po ay maipagpatuloy natin ang ating
pagkakaisa at pagtutulungan para sa ikakaunlad ng ating bayan.

Tanggapin po ninyo ang aking taos pusong pasasalamat sa inyong

patuloy na suporta sa akin at sa buong Embahada ng Pilipinas dito sa Brunei
Darussalam. I am counting on your continuing support for the Philippine
Embassy in its work of upholding Philippine national interests and the welfare of
the Filipinos in Brunei Darussalam.

My wife Estela and I shall be departing Brunei Darussalam on

Wednesday, 30 June 2010, via Royal Brunei Airlines flight BI 683 at 11:50 am.
We leave the host country with pleasant memories, particularly of your warmth,
hospitality, and friendship. Kami ay lilisan pauwi ng ating bayan bitbit ang mga
masasayang alaala at pagkakaibigan mula sa inyo at mga taga Brunei. Lahat ng
ito ay tatanawin ko bilang isang napakamahalagang yugto ng aking buhay.

We look forward to enjoying our life as private citizens back in the

Philippines, and hope to see you again in one of your travels to our beloved
country.

With my warmest regards.

Sincerely yours,

ALEXANDER B. YANO
Ambassador