Britain's Consul for Cebu is retiring

Mrs Moya Jackson, Britain's Honorary Consul for Cebu is retiring on 19th April 2013. Until her successor is officially appointed and in-post, all Consular enquiries, CNI applications etc., should be referred to the Consular Section at the British Embassy, Taguig City, Manila.

For further information, please see this page on GOV.UK.

Over 2 months to get her replacement ready who I understand is Tasmin Booth. Poor organisation from Manila. BTW we will have a new Ambassador in July too. Something else Manila hasn't bothered to tell Brits here

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-of-her-majesty-s-ambassador-to-the-philippines

Mrs Jackson is a prickly character and I think she will enjoy her retirement.
She looked down on my (now) wife in a very demeaning way and I had to tell her so

I'd never had cause to meet with her, but I certainly heard many stories.
It seems, from what I gathered, she made immediate value judgements.... and bought them into her support levels.

Yes you're correct in your assumption, Peter.

I had the feeling she was jealous of my wife back in 2008.
Not because my fiancee was young and beautiful but because Chel was going to join me in the UK; Mrs. Jackson wanted to go back home at that time but could not.
She was instantly unlikeable to me and she made my future wife feel very uncomfortable and teary.
In fact, my wife was petrified that all English ladies were that way disposed.
Ahhhh

It is my understanding that Moya is going back to the UK. Yet to be proven one way or another but I have heard that she has kept the Consul job in the family.

Has she just recently retired, really? She must be the longest serving consul in history! She was the consul way back in 1993.

I take it you didn't receive an invitation from the Ambassador for drinkies and canapes on the Embassy lawn to celebrate the Queen's birthday in June, then..... really? Me neither. It's a poor show if you ask me.

And who is Tasmin Booth - am I supposed to know her? I take it that the Consulate will continue to be housed in the third bedroom of that semi-detached house in Mandaue City?

It's not that long ago that we had an Hon Con in Davao but they never replaced him when he retired in late 2007. In fact, Mindanao is the "lost continent" as far as the Embassy in Manila is concerned: there's no so much as one warden here. Dashed bad show.

You're describing a Moya Jackson that I've heard about from others but not one that meets with my personal experience. Over the years I've both met her socially and had professional dealings with her, I've always found her to be charming and very helpful. Last year my wife had an appointment with her to register our son's birth and to apply for his British (Consular) Birth Certificate and told me afterwards that Moya was a delightful lady who, with the business side done, entertained my wife in their garden.

In my experience it is her husband - who looks and dresses in a style reminiscent of the British Raj - who is brusque and aloof almost to the point of rudeness.

Mark,

Check the link for the incoming Ambassador - he may change that situation if his name is any indicator. As for Tasmin Booth, well let's wait for the official announcement, if my little birdie is right you will be in for a surprise.....or maybe not so much given the way these things work.

As for invites, did much better out of the previous bunch

I had a right ole ding dong with her when I went down there within the "office hours" stated on the website (3 hour journey] ..
She was at a charity lunch and wouldn't meet me any where so I had a wasted trip..
Anyway..Thats when the trouble started.
Long story short they had to change the website wording to "by appointment only"..

I did but I won't be holding my breath whilst waiting for things to improve. As far as HMG is concerned, the Philippines consists of two islands and the present incumbent has only see one of them - and even then not straying too far from "home base" and the Embassy cocktail circuit.

Given the almost total lack of "service", compared to say 20 years ago, we'd be far better off closing down all the embassies and putting their functions up for competitive tender. At least then we could complain about prices and services (£15 per sheet for a photocopy?!!). They're not even too good about promoting Britain, British industry and tourism which is now their main raison d'etre; the British Council does a far better job at all three.

Needless to say, if you're caught-up in a court case here, don't expect much in the way of assistance. Consular officials who visited Cebu and schmoozed with Governor Gwen and City Fiscals took away a full file of the prosecution's case against Ian Griffiths and promised HMG's assistance in bringing him to trial. When we attempted to achieve some form of balance by giving them a copy of the defence file, there was a palpable lack of interest. A file was nevertheless sent to Manila, both directly and via the Cebu Hon Con who some months later informed me that neither had been received. Hmmmm.

You may have noted that the Baldrick who helped you run the Diogenes Club elsewhere has become quite reactionary in his old age! (Yes, I know that wasn't exactly its name: there's better educated clientele here, some of whom may actually know what it was!)

I've been keeping a watch on the case. Well done for getting it where it is today.

Ive heard Santos will probably soon be given bail.. Is that right?

Yes indeed. She was released yesterday morning after her lawyers deposited half-a-million Pesos with the Court.

Seems like your rant and rave had a result, although you wasted a journey.
Good for you in that you helped many others that followed

I'm told, by someone who knows Tamsin and her husband Bob Boothe very well indeed, that she almost certainly won't be taking over from her mother as Britain's next Hon Con for Cebu.

Mark,

I know Sun Star isn't exactly renowned for its reporting, I see no reason why they should get this wrong but I guess we will find out soon enough (see last paragraph:

A changing of the guard

By Jenara Regis Newman

Sunday, April 7, 2013

THE Consular Corps of Cebu recently had its induction of officers for 2013.

Inducted chairperson was Emilie Benedicto, honorary consul of Poland. The other officers inducted were Jose Sala, honorary consul of Sweden, vice-chairman, Carmel Durano, honorary consul of Poland, secretary, Jaime Picornell, former honorary consul of Spain, treasurer, and Robert Lee, honorary consul of Canada, director. Inducting officer was Ambassador Frank Benedicto, who was also the guest speaker.

In her valedictory address, outgoing chairperson Russian honorary consul Armi Garcia cited the achievements of the group during her term, particularly the highly successful show, Fashion and Rhythm done in collaboration with Zonta, which made it possible for the group to donate ten wheelchairs to their favorite charity, the Cebu Society for Crippled Children.

She also hoped that the countries represented in the Cebu Consular Corps would all celebrate their national days and that more cultural and trade ties be forged by them with the City of Cebu in the years ahead.

Ambassador Benedicto, in his speech, emphasized the role of diplomacy to promote understanding between countries, between peoples so as to make peace, not war. This, he said, is the critical role of a diplomat.

The simple induction ceremony was held at the Casino Español with members of the consular corps in attendance, including former honorary consuls Picornell of Spain, Arcadio Alegrado of Austria and Moya Jackson of England, whose countries are now represented by Anton Perdices for Spain, JulieVergara for Austria, and Tamsin Booth for England.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on April 08, 2013.

Ah yes, grasshopper, but as the article accords two Honorary Consuls for Poland, I suggest it should be treated with an even greater pinch of salt than is normally required for that paper's reportage! In fact, the reporter seems terribly confused: a former Honorary Consul (and both words should be capitalized) can not be inducted into Cebu's Consular Corps since that person is no longer a member of it!!

Oh and Hon Cons are not diplomats.

A definite C-- to SunStar for that effort.