12 February 2023 - The Philippine Embassy conducted its first Town Hall Meeting for the year with the Filipino community on 12 February 2022 in person and via Zoom. The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Giovanni E. Palec and joined by Consul Judy Robianes, Consul Therese Cantada, Labor Attaché Cynthia Cruz and Welfare Officer Marivic Mondina.

Those present were from Accredited Community Partners (ACP) - Chona Pamintuan; B.I.M.A.K (Emilia Soriano); Budabosa-CCM-Abra- Jocelyn Haboy; Couples For Christ (CFC)- Marietta Ilagan; Crossroads UPC Athens (Luther Hallasgo); Filipino Athens Volunteers- Teresita Bristol; Filipino Christian Fellowship of Athens - Bella Sanchez-Pearson; Golden Wisdom Advocates- Danilo Robles; Team-Ba Organization- Ivy Bernardo; TFC Greece- Wilhelmina Mendoza-Buado; United Migrants Greece Chapter- Remelie Santiago and Triskelion Greece National Council - Esperanza Salva. Ms. Rosemarie Nicolas representing the Filipino Organization in Northern Greece in Thessaloniki attended via Zoom.

Ambassador Palec updated the meeting of consular matters and the start of registration for Overseas Voting for elections in May 2025; Labor Attaché Cynthia Cruz gave an overview on the new Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the main tasks of Philippine Migrant Workers Office (WMO) formerly POLO, under the DMW. Welfare Officer Marivic Mondina informed the meeting that OWWA will continue to cater to OWWA members and dependents providing the same services.

The meeting was also informed of the upcoming activities of the Embassy and the Philippine National celebrations, the Contingency Plan preparation for Filipinos under the Embassy’s jurisdiction and Filcom’s plans for the 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence in June this year. Ambassador Palec encouraged the meeting to participate in the activities.

30 January 2023 – In promoting Arnis as the Philippine national martial art and sport, the Philippine Embassy in Athens conducted an introduction and demonstration of Arnis on 29 January 2023 via zoom and in person at the Philippine Embassy.

Labatt Cynthia Cruz during group demonstration on basic moves of Arnis.

The event was led online by Philippine-based coach Mr. Ronald Farol, an accredited Technical Official of the Philippine Eskrima, Kali Arnis Federation (PEKAF) and coach of Cambodia Arnis Team. The in-person participants in the Embassy were guided by Mr. Arden Poblete, an Arnis coach based in Greece and founder/Instructor of the Kalidu International Association Inc. in Greece.

The activity was attended by some members of the Filipino community, Embassy personnel led by Ambassador Giovanni Palec, with First Secretary and Consul Therese Cantada, and PDMW-OWWA personnel led by Labatt Cynthia Cruz. The Greek instructors from Modern Kalidu Arnis guided the in-person participants with the basic moves and techniques of Arnis.

Ambassador Palec welcomed the participants and encouraged them to pursue the sport as it develops self-control and discipline and can also be used for self-defense. It also promotes the culture of the Filipinos.

Arnis is already known to some Greeks through the Kalidu Modern Arnis group which was founded by Mr. Poblete. The Embassy plans to introduce and promote Arnis in forthcoming activities.

The participants enjoyed the session on Arnis. A group photograph with the participants was taken after the demonstration. They were later treated with a simple meal of pancit, chicken and coffee.

Ambassador Giovanni E. Palec, together with First Secretary and Consul Therese R. Cantada, met with Ms. Regina Golemi, Chair of Goldair Group and Mr. Nikos Sofiadis, Deputy Managing Director of Goldair Airline Services, at the Philippine Embassy on 12 January 2023.

Goldair Group is one of the largest and most reputable groups of companies in the fields of tourism and transportation in Greece. It has operations in the field of international forwarding and logistics, ground handling, aviation security services, rail cargo transportation, travelling and professional LED lighting and trade.

Goldair Airline Services is the general sales agent representing Philippine Airlines (PAL) in Greece since 1972. It is the first GSA Company in Greece and represents over 24 airlines in the passenger and cargo sector through the provision of a full range of services and facilities to promote airlines in the Greek market.

The meeting discussed the longstanding partnership between Goldair and Philippine Airlines and the opportunities for cooperation for exploration in the areas of tourism, labor and trade.

The Philippine Embassy presented Ms. Golemi and Mr. Sofiadis with tokens of appreciation for their continued support and partnership with the Philippines’ national flag carrier, Philippine Airlines.

Philippine Ambassador Giovanni E. Palec, together with Philippine Honorary Consul Criton Tornaritis of Nicosia, met with Mr. Andreas Zachariades, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labor of the Republic of Cyprus on 08 December 2022 to discuss issues affecting the Overseas Filipino Workers in Cyprus.

During the meeting, Mr. Zachariades conveyed the transition of the Department of Social Insurance of Cyprus into the Deputy Ministry of Social Insurance, turning the office into a more upgraded agency which is expected to become fully operational in 2023.

The meeting discussed the implementation of the minimum wage for workers in Cyprus, noting the country’s recent enactment of the Ministry Decree on the minimum wage as well as the adoption of the International Labor Organization’s regulations concerning domestic workers and caregivers.

Ambassador Palec and Mr. Zachariades highlighted matters related to undocumented workers, and also evaluated the possibility for the Philippines and Cyprus to enter into a bilateral labor agreement for different categories of workers, including hospitality and tourism sector.

On 09 December 2022, Ambassador Giovanni Palec, together with Philippine Honorary Consul Charmagne Garcia-Laconico of Larnaca, met with Mr. Antonis Orthodoxou, Group Managing Director of Orthodoxou Group and Mr. Dominique Laconico, President and Chief Executive Officer of Megabet Plus, to discuss the interest to establish a Philippine-Cyprus Chamber of Commerce or Business Council.

Mr. Antonis Orthodoxou is engaged in a family-owned conglomerate ranging from petroleum supply to banking and finance as well as labor supply services while Mr. Dominique Laconico’s company, Megabet Plus, is part of the Udenna Group of Companies which includes Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant.

During the meeting, the business executives were advised to explore the more convenient option with a view to establish an entity that would help facilitate more trade and services between the Philippines and Cyprus.

While this is still in the exploratory stage, the meeting agreed that the establishment of such a body would help propel business relations between the two countries.