Ambassador of Chile to the Philippines visits Ateneo to discuss potential points of cooperation

On 18 May, His Excellency Alvaro Domingo Jara Bucarey, Ambassador of Chile to the Philippines, paid a courtesy call to Fr Roberto C Yap SJ to discuss the opportunities of a partnership between the Chilean government and the Ateneo de Manila University.

Some potential areas of cooperation include the possible establishment of a Latin American Studies course, alongside Ateneo’s pre-existing courses in European Studies, Chinese Studies, Korean Studies, and Japanese Studies. H E Jara is particularly keen on pursuing projects and academic partnerships in the fields of political science and languages. 

H E Jara is also interested in sending more Chilean students to the Philippines, and more Filipino students to Chile, through linkages between Chilean universities, Ateneo, and other schools and colleges within the global Jesuit network. 

H E Jara was joined by Marco Antonio Navarro Ahumada, Deputy Head of Mission and Consul of the Embassy of Chile.

Also present at the courtesy call were Ms Karen C Sunico of Ateneo’s Office of International Relations, and Ms Ma Cristina M Alikpala, incoming Assistant Vice President for University Partnerships and Internationalization. 

The Philippines and Chile have a shared history of having been a colony of Spain, and in recent years have worked together to deepen relations in education, disaster risk reduction, trade and investment, and more. There is currently a population of about 800 Filipinos in Santiago, Chile, with the number growing consistently.