Philippines – Georgia relations are about to get a significant boost following an initiative by Consul (a.h.) of Georgia Thelmo Cunanan and Hon. Hexilon Alvarez, Councilor of Santiago City and President of the Philippine Councilors League for Region 2, to establish a special tripartite sister-city relationship between the cities of Santiago and Cauayan, both geographically located in the province of Isabela Province in the northern Philippines, and a metropolis in Georgia, possibly Rustavi City.

This will be the first sister-city relationship to be established between the Philippines and Georgia.

Santiago, with a population of 132,804 people, is an independent component city and the gateway to Cagayan Valley, while Cauayan, with a population of 122,335 people, is a component city of Isabela province, the Agro-Industrial Capital of Cagayan Valley, and the Central Business District of Region 2.

Rustavi, on the other hand, is the third largest city in Georgia, with 120,800 residents. It is located in southeast part of the country, in the province of Kvemo Kartli, situated 25 kilometers southeast of the capital Tbilisi. A booming agro-industrial center, Rustavi is strategically-located between Tbilisi and the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The city has a multi-ethnic population and places great emphasis on religious and racial tolerance.

On May 10, 2014, Consul Cunanan met with local government officials of Santiago and Cauayan to discuss the initial details of the proposed partnership, which would involve cultural and technological exchanges and cooperation in tourism, urban development, trade and industry, sports development, environmental protection, social services and health, and education.

Among the local government officials present were Councilors Edwin de Luna and Alejandro Uy III and LGU Assistant Secretary Maureen Corpuz, who stood for Mayor Bernard Dy of Cauayan City, and the Chief of Staff of Councilor Alvarez for the Santiago City Council.

Moderating the meeting was Ms. Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, President of the Earthsavers Movement, one of the private sector groups spearheading the proposed cultural exchange program between the cities.

Representatives from the University of La Salette were Mr. Benedict Santiago, Dean of Student Affairs; Ms. Levita Manglapus-Castro, Vice President of Academic Affairs; and Fr. Steven Munar, Vice President for Spiritual Affairs and Services. Isabel State University officials, on the other hand, were led by Dr. Elena Toquero, Director of the ISU Cultural Affairs Center; Mr. Ernesto Toquero, ISU Cultural Consultant; and ISU professor Dr. Visitacion Simbulan. The school officials expressed keen interest in establishing relationships with their counterpart academic institutions in Rustavi. Culture exchanges and educational cooperation are among the priority projects of Consul Cunanan and Councilor Alvarez.

During the meeting, Consul Cunanan gave a general socio-economic and cultural briefing about Georgia to the officials present, including the background history of the Georgian Consulate and its many activities in the Philippines, including past academic and cultural exchanges. He also answered questions relating to the possible sister-city agreement, specifically about areas of synergy and mutual opportunity and the benefits for the people of Santiago and Cauayan.

The local government and school officials voiced their enthusiasm for the project and their eagerness to immediately engage the officials of Rustavi and sign their respective agreements.

Later that day, Consul Cunanan met separately with Isabela Governor Faustino Dy, Jr., Vice Governor Antonio Albano, and Cauayan Mayor Bernard Dy, who were elated with the developments and expressed their full support for the tripartite sister-city initiative. They also voiced their desire to organize official trips to Georgia.

Consul Cunanan is scheduled to attend the official Independence Day Celebration of Georgia on May 26 and to dialogue with the city officials of Rustavi.