About The Embassy

DFA Seal The Philippines established its Embassy in Oslo, Norway on 30 April 2007. It is the Philippine government's official contact point with the authorities of its jurisdiction, namely, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. The main task is to safeguard Philippine interests in these countries and also work for the enhancement of relations between them. The Philippine Embassy in Oslo is the Philippines' 86th Foreign Service post.

Establishing a resident Embassy in Norway became a priority concern of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines for various reasons: Philippines-Norway diplomatic relations span 60 years of meaningful interaction, and Norway is a recognized leader in the area of conflict resolution and has played a substantive role as third-country facilitator in the GRP-NDF peace talks since 2001.

On the economic front, prospects are good for Philippine agricultural products, of which Norway is a net importer, as well as information technology goods and services. The same can be said for potential Norwegian investments in the Philippines , particularly in oil and natural gas exploration and equities, as well as renewable energy such as hydropower and geothermal. There is also room for further cooperation in the maritime sector, particularly marine resources management, marine environmental protection and maritime safety. Around 7,000 Norwegian tourists visit the Philippines annually. There is good reason to be optimistic that, with adequate information dissemination, the number of Norwegian visitors, noted for their high purchasing power, would increase even more.

On the consular side, there is an estimated 14,600 Filipinos working and living in Norway (first- and second-generation immigrants and OFWs) in addition to some 32,000 Filipino seafarers on board Norwegian vessels. There is an estimated number of 6,000 Filipinos in Denmark and around 1,500 in Iceland. Denmark is a staunch partner of the Philippines in counter-terrorism initiatives. A number of Danish companies operate in the Philipines. The Philippines and Iceland also cooperate in the area of hydropower.

Our present address is : 4th Floor, Nedre Vollgate 4 0158 Oslo, Norway.

Second Secretary and Consul Porfirio M. Mayo, Jr. was the Embassy's Chargé d'Affaires, ad interim (CDA) before Ambassador Victoria S. Bataclan arrived in Norway in May 2007. In January 2009, Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso took over the the post as AEP.

Meet the Officers and Staff

 

 

Bayani S. Mercado

Ambassador

Ambassador Mercado is a career Foreign Service Officer who joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1979.

In the foreign service he served as Consul General in Guam (2002-2003, 2007-2008 and 2010- September 2011), Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, New York (2003 – 2007), Alternate Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Security Council (2004 – 2005), Acting Head of Post in Vancouver, Canada (1998 – 1999), Consul and Executive Officer in Vancouver, Canada (1993 – 1999), Second Secretary and later First Secretary, Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York (1988 - 1990), Vice Consul and later Consul, Philippine Consulate General, New York (1982 – 1988).

In the Department of Foreign Affairs, he served as Assistant Secretary for Legislative Liaison – Office of the Secretary (2008 – 2010), Executive Director for American Affairs (2000 – 2001), Deputy Chief of Protocol (1999 – 2000), Director and later Acting Executive Director for United Nations and Other International Organization (1990 – 1993), Principal Assistant, Office of ASEAN Affairs (1981 – 1982) and Acting Director for South Asia and later U.S. Division (1979 – 1981).

Ambassador Mercado hails from Binan, Laguna, is married and has three children. He has a Masters Degree in International Relations from St. John’s University in New York and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Foreign Service from the Lyceum of the Philippines.

Maria Louella C. Duarte

First Secretary and Consul

Ms. Maria Louella C. Duarte is the First Secretary and Consul. She joined the DFA in 1998 after passing the examinations to become a Foreign Service Officer.

 

 

Lenna Eilleen C. De Dios

Third Secretary & Vice Consul
Administrative Officer

Vice Consul Lenna Eileen C. De Dios-Sison graduated from the University of the Philippines with a degree in English, Major in Creative Writing.

She joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2004 after passing the Foreign Service Officer’s Examinations. Vice Consul De Dios' first foreign posting is here at the Philippine Embassy in Oslo, Norway.

 

 

Consuelo E. Cauton

FSSO I
Signing Officer & Attaché

Ms. Consuelo E. Cauton has been posted in various capacities at Philippine Embassies in Bangkok, Brussels, and the Vatican and at the Consulate General offices in San Francisco, USA and Vancouver, Canada. She also headed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Regional Office in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental. She was cross posted at the Philippine Embassy Oslo in 2008.

She is the Embassy's Visa Officer and serves also as a signing officer for Passport and Visa.

 

 

Anna-Marie C. Caraig

FSSO II Finance Officer & Attaché

Ms. Anna Marie C. Caraig holds a degree in Commerce from the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

She sees to it that the Embassy finances and accounting are in proper order.

She has been with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for 26 years now. Her foreign posting includes the Philippine Embassies in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and in Doha, Qatar.

 

 

Bernard F. Bartolome

FSSE II
Communications & Records, Protocol, Security & Property Officer & Attaché

Mr. Bernard F. Bartolome is a graduate of Foreign Service, Major in Diplomacy in the Lyceum University, where he also completed his academic units in MA Diplomacy.

He joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2001, assigned initially in the Office of Consular Affairs and later on to the Office of American Affairs. This is his first foreign service posting.

 

 

Maria Rita C. Tan

FSSE I
Consular and Assistance to Nationals Officer & Attaché

Ms. Maria Rita C. Tan is a Marketing graduate from St. Paul College, Quezon City. She has been with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for 20 years now.

She was first assigned at the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong Special Autonomous Region (SAR).

 

 

Ma. Cecilia Suyat-Cabutotan

FSSE II
Secretary to the Ambassador, Cultural Officer and Assistant & Attaché

Ms. Ma. Cecilia Suyat-Cabutotan has a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree from the University of Santo Tomas (UST). She joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1999 and served at the Authentication and Visa Division of the Office of Consular Affairs and later on at the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Coordination.

Oslo is her first foreign service posting.

 

 

Locally-hired Employees

Generosa C. Collado

General Utility Person

Ms. Generosa Collado graduated from the University of Northern Philippines with a degree in Education. She maintains the cleanliness and orderliness of the Embassy. She helps in ensuring the success of embassy functions by preparing food and refreshments .

At the same time, she assists at the Consular Section and performs other duties that may be assigned to her from time to time.

 

 

Brandon S. Memeg

Driver

Mr. Brandon S. Memeg studied Civil Engineering in Baguio Central University. He once served as a service driver for a Non-Governmental Organization in the Philippines.

Mr. Memeg is the Ambassador’s official driver and sees to it that the Ambassador arrives safely and on time for her appointments, including those held outide Oslo. He also performs other duties that may be assigned to him from time to time.

 

 

Philippine Honorary Consulate

Skogarsel 39, 109 Reykjavik, Iceland

Maria Priscilla Zanoria

Consul a. h.

Honorary Consul Zanoria is a graduate of the University of the Visayas with a degree in Civil Engineering. She first worked for an engineering firm in Reykjavik before opening a Filipino store in the area. She is the owner of the MPZ Ltd. and the "Kaerleikshusid" Charity Center for women and children Her store became a focal meeting place for Filipinos in the city. She speaks Filipino, English and Icelandic. Ms. Zanoria is an active member of the Icelandic community and has good working relations with top members of the Icelandic government. She is married and has three daughters.

 

 

Philippine Honorary Consulate General

Aurehøjvej 30 2900 Hellerup

Poul Krogh

Consul General a. h.

Honorary Consul Krogh is the founder of DEKO LOFT & VÆG A/S, a company in the construction business since 1967. He now owns several multinational businesses and is a board member of several Danish companies. He speaks English and German at negotiating level, has good knowledge of the Scandinavian languages and a little of French and Arabic. Mr. Krogh was appointed the Philippines' Honorary Consul in Denmark in April 2009. The Honorary consulate's office provides visa services, performs notarial services and extends assistance to as well as promote the welfare of Filipino nationals in his area of jurisdiction.

 

 

Philippine Honorary Consulate

Senior AS, Løkkeveien 13, 4008 Stavanger

Renee S. Ikdal

Consul a. h.

Honorary Consul Renee S. Ikdal is a certified public accountant, holds a BSBA degree from the University of the Philippines, Diliman and a Masters in Business Economics from the University of Asia and the Pacific.

She is a long-time resident in Stavanger, Norway. Having been the President of the Filipino Association in Rogaland (FAR) for many years, she is very active in the Filipino community and Catholic church affairs.