Noticias / News

Diane de Sequera, 2011 Teacher of the Year

Tue, 7 Jun 2011 06:02:03 -0700

Diane de Sequera has been selected as one of 25 teachers nationwide (USA) as a "Teacher of the Future" by the National Association of Independent Schools. She will be hosting webinars and online discussions on iTunes U accessible to science teachers around the world. 
On May 7th, Diane, aka "Mrs. D" was named the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club's 2011 Teacher of the year! Over 600 educators were nominated this year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =tiDI8NpSuDs

Congratulations!

Joaquin de Sequera to be released from hospital today

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:03:01 -0700

Joaquin is expected to be released from Vancouver General Hospital today after being admitted two days ago with suspected heart problems.

(Follow up: Doctors decided today to keep him for another day of observation. He is now expected to be discharged tomorrow, July 22)

He underwent a complicated but successful pacemaker lead insertion at Royal Columbian Hospital last week. He had been released from Royal Columbian Hospital last Wednesday (14 July), but complained of discomfort and fatigue afterwards.

Joaquin (86) is the last of the surviving children of José de Sequera González and Luisa Santaromana. We wish him a speedy recovery!

de Sequera Geneaology Project

Ambassador Ugarte pays farewell call

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:43:36 -0700

19 July 2010 – Philippine Ambassador to Spain Ana I. de Sequera-Ugarte paid a farewell call on Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos on 11 June 2010 at the Palacio de Viana.

During the call, Ambassador Ugarte conveyed to Foreign Minister Moratinos her appreciation for the cooperation and assistance extended by the Spanish Government to the Philippines and expressed hope that relations between the two countries will continue to deepen in the coming years.

For his part, Foreign Minister Moratinos emphasized the importance of Spain´s relations with the Philippines and conveyed his Government´s hopes of working closely with the new administration of President Benigno Simeon Aquino, particularly in the teaching of the Spanish language in Philippine highschools.

Ambassador Ugarte departed Madrid on 30 June 2010 in compliance with DFA order to return home.

Ambassador Ugarte ended her tour of duty on 20 July 2010.

Dr. Irwin M. Jacobs inspires Diane’s 5th Graders

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:59:12 -0700

Diane invited Dr. Irwin M. Jacobs (co-founder & former Chairman & CEO of Qualcomm Corp.) to speak to her middle school science students at La Jolla Country Day School on Monday, April 26.

Her students recently participated in a grade-wide, formally judged Invention Fair and Dr. Jacobs discussed his company's cutting edge research as well as his commitment to innovation & the invention process.

Dr. Jacobs demonstrated new handheld devices and described how nanotechnology was a factor in their design.

Dr. Jacobs is a co-founder and former Chairman and CEO of Qualcomm Corp. which he founded in 1985. Qualcomm developed CDMA technology for mobile devices. Dr. Jacobs retired as Chief Executive Officer of Qualcomm in 2005 and as Chairman of the Board in 2009.

Diplomatic Ladies Association Bazaar

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:42:30 -0700

Fotos de la embajadora con la Reina Sofia.

Ana hosts Tribuna dinner

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 06:33:51 -0800

Prospects in renewable energy (RE) and water management top the four-pronged agenda at the V Tribuna España-Filipinas, with some 50 Philippine leaders in business, education, culture and development cooperation engaging counterparts in Barcelona starting this Sunday... click to read the rest of the article by businessmirror.com.ph

A BRIGHT YEAR

Mon, 1 Feb 2010 05:22:29 -0800

Dear Kababayans:


         I'd like to begin the year on a positive note! Our congratulations to 6-year old Christine Marie Jacobsen, another young Filipino achiever; her drawing won first prize in the international contest "Premio Escolar Paz y Cooperación 2009." Awarding ceremonies will be held in Brussels in 2010.

          My New Year's greetings to all! May it be a whole year of renewed hope, great possibilities, and promise. In the Chinese Horoscope, the approaching Year of the Tiger represents "speed, strength, purposefulness, determination and cautious optimism." This year will be about drawing strength from adversity so that we'll all be stronger, able to take fast and decisive actions, and tackle the difficult tasks ahead. The recent tragic events in Haiti, among many other events inherited from past years, are indeed challenges the world will have to face and which must be resolved by all of us, together, as a global community.

          On May 6, we Filipinos will be electing our country's new administration and we look forward to a peaceful transfer of power and change in leadership, and enlightened direction. I can't reiterate enough how important it is to get out and vote.

          So let's get out there, Kababayans, and grab the Tiger!

          Mabuhay!

Ana
Ambassador
Madrid

Pia reports Spanish aid to Philippine typhoon victims has arrived and is being distributed

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 08:46:13 -0700

I just got this at work this morning! :)

This is an official letter to my mother from Percival Manglano, the Director for Social Development for the city of Madrid.

It states that the cargo plane filled with aid for the victims of Ondoy arrived in Manila from Spain on October 4, at 12:00pm Philippines local time.

It goes on to state that on the same day the contents of the cargo (Water, sanitary supplies and shelter) were delivered and received by the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) in Manila.

On Monday, October 5, the contents were put in the DSWD warehouse to be checked, counted and prepared for distribution.

The cargo is now being allocated to various affected areas of the country; evacuation centers being the priority destinations.

Just thought all of you at home would like to know this! Love you all!!!

Pia

Querida Embajadora,

Como acordado, le mando la foto del material en el almacén en Filipinas.

El avión fletado por la AECID llegó a Manila el día 4 de Octubre domingo a las 12h de la mañana hora local Filipinas. La carga estaba compuesta principalmente por material de agua y saneamiento y cobijo. El material fue entregado ese mismo día a las autoridades locales y en particular al Departamento de Bienestar Social y Desarrollo (DSWD, en sus siglas en inglés). El DSWD es el órgano encargado de recepcionar este tipo de material.

Al día siguiente se pudo comprobar que el material se encontraba en los almacenes del DSDW, verificando las cantidades y lista para su distribución. Las distribuciones se están organizando en las diferentes zonas afectadas del país y la prioridad en los primeros días se centra en los centros de evacuación.

Gracias, y un abrazo,
Percival

Cargo waiting to be sorted and distributed at the DSWD warehouse

Spain Cares

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 05:28:21 -0700

On October 1, 2009, Ambassador Ana I. de Sequera-Ugarte and Minister Marciano R. de Borja met with Elena Madrazo, Director of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID) to discuss the details of Spanish humanitarian assistance to the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy. Director Madrazo officially informed the Madrid PE officials that the Spanish government would send a plane loaded with humanitarian relief goods and equipment (blankets, coats, tents, hygienic kits, water purifier, etc.) to the Philippines on 02 October. Ambassador Ugarte personally witnessed the sending off of the plane from the Torrejon Airbase in Madrid.

MAEC through AECID has allocated 1 million euros worth of humanitarian assistance for the typhoon victims. The total amount is broken down into the following: 500,000 euros in relief goods and the cost of the rental of the transport plane; 250,000 euros for the distribution of hygienic kits through the Red Cross; 150,000 euros for the distribution of potable water through Acción contra el Hambre (a Spanish NGO); and 150,000 euros for the purchase of food at the local markets. Secretary of State for International Cooperation Soraya Rodríguez also presided over a meeting yesterday of the different Spanish agencies to coordinate the Spanish assistance to the Philippines.

02 October 2009. Philippine Ambassador to Spain Ana I. de Sequera-Ugarte answers questions from Spanish TV journalists at the Torrejón de Ardoz Air Base. Ambassador added.."..We recognize that Spain is also going through difficult times because of the financial crisis and unemployment. And, yet they continue to give humanitarian aid to people in need..."

To her left is Elena Madrazo, Director of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID) and to her right is Soraya Rodríguez, Secretary of State for International Cooperation (MAEC) .

02 October 2009, Torrejón de Ardoz Air Base (From left) Elena Madrazo, Director of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID); Ana I. de Sequera-Ugarte, Philippine Ambassador to Spain; Soraya Rodríguez, Secretary of State for International Cooperation (MAEC); and Javier Fernández- Lasquetty Blanc, Consejero de Inmigración y Cooperation of the Comunidad de Madrid, pose before some relief goods for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy (a.k.a. Ketsana) before they were sent to the Philippines by cargo plane.

02 October 2009, Torrejón de Ardoz Air Base. Ana I. de Sequera-Ugarte, Philippine Ambassador to Spain, and Soraya Rodríguez, Secretary of State for International Cooperation (MAEC) during the sending off ceremony of the Spanish humanitarian assistance to the Philippines.

My Dearest Kababayans,

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 10:39:21 -0700

I arrived in Spain to assume my position as Ambassador of the Philippines to Spain last July 23, 2009. I was told that technically I could perform my duties as Ambassador however I wasn't a full fledged ambassador until I had presented my credentials to the King. That big day was scheduled on Sept 28, 2009..The activities I attended during the weeks that lead up to this day have been significant. These included: my courtesy calls to the Spanish Ministers of Foreign Affairs, A visit to the Feria de Madrid for the gifts fair & meetings with its directors, a visit to the Madrid Stock Exchange & meetings with its directors, a visit to the Museo Naval of San Sebastian where I was the VIP visitor of their ongoing exhibit of the Basques in the Pacific, attendance of a Filipina nun receiving her temporal vows in Burgos...

During this little time I realize how genuinely the Spanish love the Filipinos...They have a sincere "cariño" for our country and people that is indescribable and I have received NOTHING BUT PRAISES. Our OFW's are treated with respect and in many altercations with Spanish authorities are ALWAYS given the benefit of the doubt. Their childlike enthusiasm for our country & people is fascinating and most heart-warming...

The concern & expression of sadness I have received for the victims of Typhoon Ondong is beyond belief...The embassy continuously receives calls from people asking where to send donations. This morning I was called by the Directora de la Agencia de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo to officially give us notice that Spain will be sending 1M Euros worth of aid to the Philippines. A cargo plane will be departing tomorrow from the military base at Torrejon. I asked if I could attend to witness the departure and to personally thank those numerous NGO's involved with the operation...

Spain is the largest donor of development and emergency aid to the Philippines in all of Europe. Yet our kababyans do not know this. We do not see Ambassador Luis Arias photo ops kissing babies or handing over emergency kits to those in need. Spain remains under the radar and does not seek publicity and yet all of their good will remains unnoticed and on the contrary is always the butt of criticism by our politicians.

Spain needs proper public relations and I write this hoping that my friends can assist me in helping a country that deserves a better image. I am open to your suggestions...I would like to send press releases and pictures of all our activities..Please forward them to your contacts in the media...

Que os parece?

My day with the King was one of the most exciting days of my life....

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas....y que...Viva España!!

Un abrazo muy fuerte...

Ana de Sequera Ugarte