On May 11, 2017, Honorary Georgian Consul Thelmo Cunanan witnessed the symbolic signing of the sister-province friendship agreement between Isabela, Philippines and Kvemo Kartli, Georgia. This is the first such relationship between Georgia and the Philippines and Georgia and the entire Asia.

The agreement was signed by Isabela Governor Faustino Dy Jr in front of 30,000 people at the provincial capitol in Ilagan City. Joining Consul Cunanan in witnessing the event were Vice Governor Antonio Albano, members of the provincial board, and other distinguished guests. The signing ceremony was one of the highlights of the 161st founding anniversary celebration of Isabela province. The document had earlier been signed in Georgia by Kvemo Kartli Governor Paata Khizanashvili. After the ceremony, Consul Cunanan delivered a speech on Philippine – Georgian friendship, which included reading officials messages of congratulations from Rustavi Mayor Davit Jikia and the Office of the Governor of Kvemo Kartli.

Consul Cunanan, working with the officials of Kvemo Kartli and Isabela, forged the sister-province relationship in 2016. Kvemo Kartli is strategically-located in Georgia and serves as an agro-industrial center and transhipment hub to and from Armenia and Azerbaijan. Isabela province, on the other hand, is an agricultural powerhouse, and anan emerging industrial center for the northern Philippines. It is the Philippines’ second largest province.

Kvemo Kartli and Isabela have strong relations. The two provinces have three sister cities: Rustavi, Cauayan, and Santiago, the first sister-cities between Georgia and the Philippines and Georgia and the entire Asia. These relationships were established by Consul Cunanan, working closely with the mayors and city councils of the three cities. Consul Cunanan is preparing for the official visit of Governor Dy and Vice Governor Albano to Georgia in November 2017.