BENEDICTO is a very familiar name in Cebu’s diplomatic corps. “It all began,” says Honorary Consul of Belgium Enrison T. Benedicto, “with my uncle Francisco ‘Frank’ Benedicto who became Belgium’s honorary consul in Cebu several decades ago. When he became Philippine Ambassador, my father Enrique took his place in 1986. That was some 30-plus years ago, when I was a little boy. Last year, he retired and I was asked to take his place. My brother Grand became honorary consul of Romania about 10 years ago and very recently, my sister Enrilen Joy B. Tan became honorary consul of Hungary.”
SunStar LIVE: Is being honorary consul sort of hereditary?
Enrilen Joy B. Tan: It’s not automatic. Just because my Dad was honorary consul of Belgium that Enrison became one also. We all go through a vetting process, filling up forms for the host country to look into, and after that country gives its approval, we have to do the same again, filling up forms, for our own government as we also have to be accepted by our own government as our host country’s honorary consul.”
SunStar LIVE: What are the privileges of being an honorary consul?
Enrison T. Benedicto: Not much really. But we get to be the conduit of Belgian help to our community. During my father’s time, Belgium was among the first countries to help Cebu after Typhoon Ruping and the relief goods were coursed through the consulate. Belgium also helped in the construction of the Pasil market. In fact, there’s a Belgium street in the area. And Cebu is sister-city of a Belgian city, Kortijk.
EJBT: It’s easier to get visas from countries we get to visit, especially the EU countries. And it might be easier for us to be allowed a longer stay abroad. Also we have easier access at airports.
SL: How does it feel to be honorary consul?
ETB: We have been exposed to consular activity but initially, I was hesitant because it is hard to fill “Dad’s big shoes.” I realized the magnitude of responsibilities as when Belgians get into trouble here and we have to give support. But the transition is easy because the ties between Belgium and Cebu are already there and there is a good relation between the Embassy and the Consulate. It’s sort of taking in social responsibility. And it can be expensive.
EJBT: I am humbled by the trust and confidence of the Hungarian government. Their thrust is to strengthen ties to the city and to the country in general, after reopening their embassy last year. Though exposed to other consulates’ activities, this will be a new consulate and the task is basically to promote ties between Hungary and Cebu.
SL: What do you do for the citizens of your host country? And what is their presence here?
ETB: There are about a hundred or so Belgians living in the Visayas-Mindanao area, most of them retirees, married to Filipinas. They have to present themselves to the consulate yearly in order for them to receive their pensions. Yearly, we celebrate Belgium Day, which is on July 21, but we celebrate it close to that day (this year on July 24) and that is usually when the Belgian Ambassador comes to Cebu. There is one Belgian company here. Atlas Copco.
EJBT: Hungary reopened its Philippine Embassy last year. They are making considerable efforts to promote economic linkages. They especially want to promote their water technology. They have donated a mobile water treatment machine to Leyte so water can be purified anywhere where it is needed. We are trying to find out how many Hungarians are living in our area of responsibility, the Visayas and Mindanao. So far, we have encountered only one, Brother Bela Lanyi, SVD, a master architect, who has been doing a bit of promotion for his country, helping students to visit Hungary for training, exposure, especially in the field of architecture. There are 30 university scholarships open to Filipinos in Hungary which are not yet filled, for any course, as well as for master’s and doctorate degrees in the University of Pecs, Hungary’s first university.
These two very capable “chips off the old block” honorary consuls hold office at the Doña Emilia Benedicto Bldg., along E. Benedicto St., Cebu City. Enrison is a management graduate of Ateneo de Manila University. Married to the former Christine Chua, Enrison is chief executive officer of Mabuhay Filcement Inc. which has its cement plant in San Fernando. Enrilen Joy B. Tan, married to Dr. Charles Neil Tan (a neurosurgeon now undergoing training in the United States), is a CPA , a La Salle University accounting graduate, and is managing director of Enrison Holdings Inc.