20 March 2023 - Around 30 Athens-based Filipinos availed of free health screening services, which included blood sugar and cholesterol testing, as part of the Health and Positive Living Forum for OFWs co-sponsored by the Philippine Embassy in Athens and the Migrant Workers Office on 19 March 2023. Over 50 Filipinos attended the lectures on physical and mental health by Filipino and Greek resource persons which followed the health screening. The event was held at Pinoy Fitness and Dance Studio in Athens in celebration of National Women’s Month.

H.E. Le Hong Truong, Ambassador of Vietnam, current ACAT Chair giving his remarks at the opening of the ASEAN Plus Bazaar in Support for the Friends of the Child (FOC) Charity Associations

Chairman of the Regional Council of Attica. Dr. Georgios Dimopoulos delivering his remarks at the opening of the ASEAN Plus Bazaar for Support of the Friends of the Child (FOC) Charity Association

25-26 March 2023 – an ASEAN Plus Bazaar for the support of the Friends of the Child (FOC) Charity Associations was held on 25-26 March 2023 at the Hellenic Foundation for Culture in Athens, Greece.

The ASEAN Plus Bazaar is the first bazaar ever organized by ACAT. Under the Chairmanship of the Embassy of Vietnam, the event was participated in by the Embassies of Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, the Honorary Consulate of Malaysia, and joined by Embassies of ASEAN Dialogue Partners China and Japan. The FOC Charity Association was the partner organizer of the event and recipient of the donation from the proceeds of the bazaar. Two Filipino-owned businesses “Pinoy Asian Fast Food” and “Sentro Otso” also participated under the banner of the Philippines. The Philippine Embassy supplied and operated the audio system which was augmented by the Indonesian Embassy’s speakers.

FOC Chair, Mrs Gianna Panagiotidou delivering her message at the opening of the bazaar

CDA Pornsith Pibulnakarinth of Thailand, Philippine Ambassador Giovanni Palec, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Hellenic Republic Deputy Director of Protocol Mr. Michail Angelopoulos, H.E. Le Hong Truong, Ambassador of Vietnam and Indonesian Ambassador Bebeb A.K.N Djundjunan

The two-day event featured charity activities and cultural performances from each ACAT country. Visitors of the bazaar, Greeks, diplomats, students, and nationals of participating countries enjoyed the food and delicacies and native products sold in the Bazaar. Songs from the participating ASEAN Embassies were played throughout the bazaar. Entrance to the bazaar was free.

The VIP Guests of the ASEAN Plus Bazar in Support for the FOC, together with the Ambassadors and Thailand’s CDA of the ASEAN Committee in Athens (ACAT) at the opening of the Bazaar

Each ACAT-member country featured cultural performances which were enjoyed by the visitors of the bazaar. On the first day of the bazaar, the Philippines presented a Filipino song “Sumayaw, Sumunod” by Anthony Carbonel and Philippine dances “Polka Sa Nayon” and “Sayaw sa Bangko” performed by the students of the Philippine School in Greece (PSG). On the second day, the Philippines offered the song “Bayan Ko” by Mr. James Peraleja from the Filipino community, the “Pallo-ok or Pattong” dance by the Cordillera group and an exhibition of Arnis techniques by the Kalidu Modern Arnis.

Mr. Anthony Carbone of the Philippines with his rendition of the song “Sumayaw, Sumunod” at the opening of the Bazaar

Students from the Philippine School in Greece performing Philippine traditional dance “Polka sa Nayon” at the opening of the bazaar

The Bazaar’s formal opening ceremony was highlighted by speeches from Vietnamese Ambassador H.E. Le Hong Truong as the current Chair of ACAT, Dr. Georgios Dimopoulos, Chairman of the Regional Council of Attica, and Mrs. Gianna Panagiotidou, Chair of the FOC. The opening was also graced by the presence of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of A9 Directorate for Asia and Oceania Mr. Theodoros Michalopoulos, Mrs. Maria Solomou, Director of the Diplomatic Cabinet of the Presidency, the Ambassadors of Japan, and Pakistan, Mr. Nikos Samaras, the Deputy Director of Protocol Mr. Michail Angelopoulos and the Deputy Head of Mission of China Lai Bo, President of the Hellenic-Swiss Chamber of Commerce, and the Honorary Consul of Malaysia.

Philippine traditional dance “Polka sa Nayon”

Philippine Ambassdor Giovanni E. Palec with PSG school teacher, Mr. Arjay Hugo and the students from the Philippines School in Greece (PSG) at the Philippine Booth

The Philippine booth featured a Bahay Kubo theme, decorated with colorful banigs and hats, sinamay and malong, with products such as native bags, fans, coasters, capiz jewelry boxes, picture frames, mother of pearl utility boxes, abaca lanterns and native fans, and miniature jeepneys on display.

Ambassador and Mme. Giovanni Palec with PSG CEO Mr. Manfred Nickel, CEO of PSG, Principal and Directress Mrs. Gracia Celia Nickel and Teacher Wilhelmina Mendoza-Buado

The ASEAN Committee in Athens (ACAT) Ambassadors and Thailand’s Charge d’ Affaires with the ACAT Embassy officials’ Working Group: Indonesia - Mr. Thoso Pritharmoso, First Secretary; Philippines - Judy Barbara Robianes, First Secretary/Consul; Thailand - Mr. Pornsith Pibulnakarintr, Charge d’ Affaires a.i.; Vietnam - Ms. Nguyen Bao Ngoc, Third Secretary of the ASEAN Plus Bazaar

The ASEAN Committee in Athens (ACAT) Ambassadors and Thailand’s Charge d’ Affaires with FOC Chairman. From right to left: Thailand’s CDA Pornsith Pibulnakarinth, H.E. Le Hong Truong, Ambassador of Vietnam, current ACAT Chair, FOC Chair Gianna Panaggiotidou, Indonesian Ambassador Bebeb A.K.N Djundjunan and Philippine Ambassador Giovanni Palec

The visitors enjoyed the taste of Filipino food which were sold out even well before the closing time of the bazaar. Pancit bihon and lumpiang gulay were crowd favorites. Other sellable food items in the Philippine booth are buchi, siopao, siomai, dried mangoes, chocolate kisses and crackers were also on the booth. The Philippines also featured halo-halo, taho, Filipino-themed cocktails, Philippine mango juice, and ginger ale using fresh ingredients. Halo-halo was popular with visitors who queued for their turn to be served.

Philippine performers of “Arnis”, the Philippine National Sport and Martial Arts from Kalidu Modern Arnis

Philippines’ “Pallo-ok” or “Patong” dance at the second day of the Bazaar

Philippine Embassy personnel wore Filipiniana on the first day and in celebration of National Women’s Day, purple on the second day. Greek (Alpha TV) and Philippine (TFC Europe) media covered the event.

Students from the Philippine School in Greece performing “Sayaw sa Bangko” a Philippine traditional dance at the opening of the bazaar

The Philippine Booth at Bazaar

Other participating countries also featured cooked food, packaged snacks, and souvenirs from their respective countries in their booths. The Thai booth offered the visitors a short ‘Thai massage' which was well patronized, while the Japanese booth drew interest with personalized calligraphy, FOC booth with jewelry, homemade sweets, books and toys. The FOC Charity Association is the recipient of the proceeds of this year’s ASEAN Plus bazaar. It is a charitable association of Greek women, established in 1987, with the goal of supporting the children, for their food, education, clothing, medical aid, and extending assistance to some families and single parents for housing and utility bills, psychological counseling and medical care.

Pinoy Asian Fast Food for a taste of Philippines’ halo-halo and “taho” at the bazaar

“Sentro Otso” for Philippines’ Filipino-themed cocktails, Philippine mango juice and ginger ale

The Venue: The Hellenic Foundation for Culture

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.