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

H.E. Elizabeth P. Buensuceso

Ambassador

Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso has been in the Foreign Service for 28 years and has served in Hong Kong, Singapore, Brussels and Beijing. She was Ambassador to the Lao PDR for four years and assumed her post as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Norway, Kingdom of Denmark and the Republic of Iceland in January 2009.

In the Home Office, she worked in various capacities in the Policy, Cultural, ASEAN, Economic Diplomacy and European Affairs offices. She has represented her country in various multilateral and regional forums. The Ambassador graduated AB, major in English, magna cum laude from the University of the East. She took up MA in English in UE and MA in Asian Studies in the University of the Philippines. She has always been a consistent honor student and a state and university scholar. She considers herself an Ambassador for Christ and delivers this message wherever God gives her the opportunity to.

 

 

Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia

Minister and Consul General

Consul General Evelyn D. Austria-Garcia graduated Valedictorian from Maryknoll College with a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies. She took her post graduate studies in New York, United States of America.

She joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1986 after passing the Foreign Service Officer’s exam in 1985. Congen Garcia has been posted to Kuala Lumpur, The Hague, The Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York and Paris.

 

 

Lenna Eilleen C. De Dios

Third Secretary & Vice Consul
Administrative Officer

Vice Consul Lenna Eileen C. De DiosVice Consul Lenna Eilleen C. De Dios 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 other documentations submitted to the Embassy.

 

 

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 III
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. He is the newest member of the Philippine Embassy in Norway and it 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 III
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

Carina B. Gaurana

Confidential Secretary of the Ambassador

Ms. Carina B. Gaurana has a Hotel and Restaurant Management degree from the Philippine Women’s University (PWU).

She keeps track of the daily schedule of the Ambassador. She coordinates with the other staff in relation to the various administrative, community and cultural activities of the embassy.

 

 

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 General

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

Aurehøjvej 30 2900 Hellerup

Poul Krogh

Consul 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.