Ex-RP envoy to Kenya dies

Philippine Ambassador to Kenya Ma. Rosario Janolo died of a lingering illness in Nairobi last Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday.

Janolo was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippines to Kenya with concurrent jurisdiction to Burundi, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda.

She was also Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT), and other international organizations based in Nairobi.

Janolo had been in the foreign service for 42 years. Before her Nairobi posting, she served as ambassador to Romania from June 1999 to May 31, 2003. She also served in different capacities at various posts. Her previous assignments included Charge d’Affaires in Cuba; Minister Counselor in Tokyo, Japan; Consul General in Kobe, Japan, Second Secretary and Consul then Consul General, Madrid, Spain.

As ambassador to Kenya, Janolo pushed for the expansion of the Philippines’ trade relations by doing business in the African continent and increasing investments of Filipino companies in Kenya and other East African countries.

Trading between Kenya and the Philippine leaned towards Filipino consumer products since 2006. From $1 million worth of exports in 2005, the figure grew to $4.4 million in 2006.

These products are mostly printing and publishing material, consumer electronics, and construction material.

Filipino companies import Kenyan-sourced natural fibers, such as sisal and inorganic chemicals. – Pia Lee-Brago