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Apr -Jun 20073PhilippiNew sATHENS PE ACHIEVES 32% VOTER TURNOUTDURING OAV EXERCISEA total of 1,867 voters, or turnout to the various The successful overseaswiththe voting in Athens was also32% of the registered meetings5,907, took part in the Accredited Community due to the aggressive andinformationmonth-longOverseas Partners (ACPs)/ Filipino energeticAbsentee Voting (OAV) Community leaders held dissemination campaignexercise in Athens from prior to the OAV period, undertaken by every14 April – 14 May 2007, when everyone was urged member of the staff, ledthus giving the Philippine to participate in the by Ambassador Tiglao,Embassy in Athens the elections, thus availing of particularly during afterdistinction of having the benefits of the office hours, such asachieved one of the political exercise abroad. attendance at Filipinohighest number of voter The Filipino Community Community gatherings,was also challenged to privatecelebrations,turnout.equal, if not surpass, the competitionsandThere was even a votervoter turnout achieved distribution of leaflets infrom the islands whoduringthe2004 venues frequented bytraveled by overnight boatPresidential Elections that Filipinosthroughoutto Athens to cast her vote,sawthePhilippine Athens and soliciting theMrs. Virginia B. TurianoEmbassy in Athens rank support of the Embassy’sfrom Chios, an islandamong the top 5 posts in staff and friends. which lies just a fewEurope.miles from the coast ofTurkey.During the first weekendof May, a team led byConsul General EleanorJaucian traveled by van tothe northern city ofThessaloniki and was ableto serve 74 voters,representing almost 80%of the total eligible votersin that area.The Embassy attributes Lauro Caparas (extreme left) was the first OFW in Greece to cast histhesuccessfulvoter ballot during the overseas absentee voting (OAV) for the 2007IMPORMASYON UKOL SAINYONG PASAPORTERepublic Act 8239 or the PhilippinePassport Act of 1996, states that theacquisition of a Philippine Passport is aPRIVILEGE, hence it remains at alltimes the property of the PhilippineGovernment.A passport is a document that issuperior to all other official documents.As such, it should be accorded by itsholder the highest respect and care. Todo damage to its integrity and validity isa serious crime and punishable by law.GROUNDS FOR DENIAL,CANCELLATION OF PASSPORTAn applicant may be denied issuance ofa passport for the following reasons:1. on order of the court;2. upon the formal request by thenatural or legal guardian whenapplicant is a minor;3. when the applicant has beenfound to have violated any of theprovisions of R.A. 8239 or thePhilippine Passport Act of 1996;4. upon the lawful order of theSecretary when it deems itnecessary to the interest of nationalsecurity, public safety or publichealth;5. upon failure of the applicant topresent documentary proof asspecified in Article 6, Section 1(E)hereof ;Senatorial and Party List Elections.6. such other disqualifications underLAW 3536/2007, (Continued from page 1) The new law also allows citizens of thirdexisting laws.countries who stayed in Greece untilpay a fine.December 31, 2004 to obtain a temporary Para sa aming kababayan sa Gresya atresidence permit. The required supporting Cyprus, With regard the renewal of the permit fordocuments will be defined with a Ministry’s We wish to assure you that assistingdependant work, the new law allows thoseDecision. The deadline of submission of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)who have not completed the requiredapplications is 30 September 2007.remains the highest priority of theminimum IKA stamps to buy out the rest,Philippine Embassy.up to 20% of the total stamps. Moreover, Those who have applied for the renewal oftheir residence permit after the Mabuhay ang Pilipino sa Gresya atthe residence permit for dependant workimplementation of Law 3386/2005 and lack Cyprus!!can be transformed to a residence permitthe required minimum IKA stamps may nowConsular Sectionfor independent economic activity afterbuy out the rest of them. three years following its first issuance.Ph ili ppi New sAthens PE Acquires Passport this, passports were scripted by hand.Printing MachineThe machine resembles an electric typewriter, but has an extra mechanism whichBeginning the third week of January allows the insertion of thicker passports.2007, passports and visas issued by the Typing errors can now be more easilyPhilippine Embassy in Athens have been corrected, minimizing spoilage. In addityped on an ‘IBM Wheelwriter 35 by tion, the passports have acquired aLexmark’ machine specially flown in ‘modern’ look like the ones being issuedfrom Los Angeles, California. Prior to by other countries. is published quarterly by theEmbassy of the Philippines in Athens, Greece.H.E. Ambassador Rigoberto D. TiglaoMinister Eleanor L. JaucianAdvisersConsul Patricia V. BarreraEditor-in-ChiefNathalie A. Fajardo Renell D. MartinezAnalydia A. Turiano Cielo L. GamayonEditorial StaffBamboo MartinezArt ConsultantAddress: 26 Antheon St., Paleo Psychico 15254 Athens, GreeceTel. Nos.: (0030) 210 6721837 or 883 Fax No.: (0030) 210 6721 872Email: athenspe@otenet.gr, info@athenspe.net

4PhilippiNew sApr-Jun 2007Pista ng Kalayaang Pilipino sa Gresya, 10 June 2007, Zappeion Court, AthensAmb. and Mrs. Tiglao lead the officers and staff ofthe Philippine Embassy personnel and the membersof the Filipino Community during the parade thatofficially opened the festivities in Zappeion Court.Exequila Aledonleads the singing ofLupang Hinirang.Amb. Tiglao reads the Independence Day Message of H.E.President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, while Consul GeneralFrom left: Mr. Royce Edrozo, Ms. Eleanor Jaucian, Labor Attaché George Eduvala and WelfareTess Doe, Ms. Tess Sells, and Officer Jocelyn Hapal read the messages of Foreign AffairsMr. Sixto Umandap lead the Secretary Alberto Romulo, Labor Secretary Arturo Brion, andOWWA Administrator Marianito Roque, respectively.Invocation.Students of KAPHILCA serenade the audience with a medley of Filipinosongs: Kataka-taka, Kalesa and Byahe Tayo.Members of Youth for Christ (YFC)dance the Tinikling like a pro.Members of Servants Communityinterpret Ako ay Pilipino.The OWWA Graduates Chorale, composed of graduates ofOWWA courses, sing Awit ng Pangarap.Amb. and Mrs. Tiglao with the members of MinusOne, winner of the event’s Youth Band Competition.Students of KAPHILCA dance the La JotaMoncadenia.Members of Abrenians in Greece perform theTinguians ethnic dance.Amb. and Mrs. Tiglao pose with the winners of theBest in National Costume.Athina Bravobelts out IsangLahi.Amb. and Mrs. Tiglao with Mr.Joel Capuz, one of thewinners of a round trip ticketto Manila during the RaffleDraw.Amb. Bobi Tiglao and Mme. Getsy Tiglao pose with some of the Accredited CommunityPartners (ACPs) in Greece.

Apr -Jun 20075PhilippiNew sNational Day Reception, 12 June 2007, Hotel Grand Bretagne, AthensAmb. and Mrs. Tiglao greet officials from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. ElsaZorbala and Amb. Constantine Giovas; and Ministry of Tourism International Affairs Director, Amb. Alexis Christopoulos.Amb. and Mrs. Tiglao welcome the Apostolic Nuncio,Archbishop Patrick Coveney and the Dean of the DiplomaticCorps, Estonian Amb. Andres Unga.Amb. and Mrs. Tiglao with the ASPAC Ambassadors: Thai Amb. Chatchawed Chartsuwan, Chinese Amb. Tian Xuejun, Korean Amb. Bae Young-han,Australian Amb. Paul Tighe, Indian Amb. Bhaskar Balakrishnan, Indonesia CDA Hadi Sasmito and Japanese Deputy Chief of Mission Masaki Takano.Amb. and Mrs. Tiglao with colleagues from the Middle East: Israeli Amb. Ali Yahya, Kuwaiti Amb. KhaledAl-Duwailah, Syrian Amb. Souad Al-Ayoubi, and Iranian Amb. Mehdi Mohtashami.With Angolan Amb. Isaias Vilinga and SouthAfrican Amb. Mandisa Dona Marasha.Amb. and Mrs. Tiglao greet the European Union (EU) Ambassadors: Spanish Amb. Juan Salazar, Austrian Amb.Herbert Kröll, Czech Amb. Hana Mottlova, and Cyprus Amb. Georgios Georgis.Amb. and Mrs. Tiglao with Thessaloniki Consul a.h. NikolaosMargaropoulos (extreme left), Arthur Antenucci, Micha and FenyCattaui, and Yorgos Psinakis. Mr. Psinakis, a nephew of anti-Marcosdictatorship militant and former Meralco top executive Steve Psinakis,is active in promoting Greek-Philippines trade.Amb. and Mrs. Tiglao with 2005 Presidential Banaag Awardee Dr. MarcosFojas, Ms. Yvette Jarvis, representative of Athens Mayor NikitasKaklamanis, and Dr. Helen Marcoyannopoulou-Fojas, a world-renownedGreek cardiologist.Amb. and Mrs. Tiglao with Consul PatriciaBarrera and popular singer, Jose Mari Chan, andhis wife.With Amb. Tahsin Burcuoğluof Turkey.Amb. Tiglao samples a can of San Miguelbeer. San Miguel Corporation (SMC)generously donated San Miguel Pale Pilsenand its new product, Hess Malt Beer, forthe reception.Amb. and Mrs. Tiglao are flanked by Consul Patricia Barrera, Consul General Ellen Jaucian,renowned artist Anton Juan (from left), Cultural Officer Analy Turiano, designer Dita Sandico-Ong(from right), and members of the Filipino Community.

6PhilippiNew sCYPRUS CornerSHEMAINE ALONZOBUSHNELLKYRIAKIDISNew HonoraryConsul, NicosiaMrs. Shemaine (‘Ginger’) AlonsoBushnell-Kyriakides is the newPhilippine Honorary Consul in Nicosia,Cyprus, who officially assumed herposition on 02 May 2007.Apr-Jun 2007FILIPINOS IN CYPRUS CELEBRATE 109TH INDEPENDENCEThe Filipino Communityin Cyprus celebrated the109th Anniversary of theProclamation of PhilippineIndependence with twocelebrations in the capital,Nicosia; and one each inLimassol and Paphos.The celebration on June 3in Nicosia was hosted bytheVisayanRegionOverseas Workers andFriends Organization atthe Solomon Square Parkand was attended by ellKyriakides, the newlyappointedPhilippineHonorary Consul.Labor Attaché Jaime Gimenez and Honorary Consul ShemaineKyriakidis (2nd and 4th from left) pose with the winners of Queen ofthe Philippine Independence Day 2007 held on 03 June 2007 inNicosia.She is married to Mr. Alexis Kyriakides,a Cypriot citizen, and has been residingFormer Honorary Consulin Cyprus for the past two years.VanthoulaTsaousisMrs. Bushnell was born in Cebu andConstantinides sponsoredmoved to California during her highthe uniforms of theschool years.dancers belonging to theShe graduated from the University ofConsularVolunteersCalifornia at Los Angeles (UCLA) with There was a cultural group.a degree in B.A., Political Science, with presentation by FilipinosThe celebration on June 10from Nicosia and Larnaca.emphasis on International Relations.in Nicosia was hosted byShe worked for Fox News Channel/ 20thCentury Fox from 1996-2003 asRegional Show Manager/Satellite FeedSupervisor, Assignment Desk Editor/Producer, and Field Producer/ AssistantPlanning Editor.From 2003-2004, she was the PRManager/Events Coordinator for DavickPR in Los Angeles, California.From 2004 to the present, she is theowner / manager of Leason USA, a Volunteer OFWs entertain the spectators with a Filipiniana dance atTinig Pinoy Filipino Voice’s Independence Day celebration insuccessful international export business.Nicosia on 10 June 2007.‘Tinig Pinoy FilipinoVoice’ at Tripoli Park, andwas attended by Filipinosfrom Nicosia, Limassoland Paphos.LaborAttaché Jimenez read theIndependenceDaymessage of H.E. PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyo,while Honorary ConsulKyriakidessentarepresentative as she hadto leave for the UnitedStates. Guests includedCypriot businessmen closetotheFilipinoCommunity.A celebration was held inLimassol on June 17 andin Paphos on June 24. Based on a report from JoyMiranda / photos fromRP-Greece Social Security,(Continued frompage 1)Shown above are the members of the Consular Volunteers, a group of Filipinooverseas workers in Cyprus that helps the Philippine Embassy in providingimmediate assistance to distressed OFWs in Cyprus.earlier been scheduled for mid-December2006 but was postponed by the GreekGovernment due to unforeseen obligations.The meeting in Manila is a follow-up tothe first round of negotiations held inAthens on 11-14 April 2005 attended byofficials of the Philippine Embassy inAthens and the Philippine Social SecuritySystem (SSS), and officials of the majorGreek social security institutions - theSocial Security Institute (IKA) for salariedwor ker s, Agri cult ural In suranceOrganization (OGA) for farmers and theGeneral Secretariat for Social Securityfrom the Ministry of Employment andSocial Security.The bilateral Social Security Agreementwith Greece was proposed by thePhilippines in 1997 to benefit Filipinosworking in Greece.

Apr -Jun 2007The Philippine Embassy welcomes.Ms. Lina G. Catbagan to March 2006. From March to Octoberassumed her duties andresponsibilitiesasCollecting Officer andConsular Assistant at thePhilippine Embassy inAthens on 25 June 2007.This is her first posting abroad and looksforward to serving the Filipinocommunities in Greece and Cyprus.Ms. Catbagan replaces Mrs. Renell D.Martinez, who is ending her tour of dutyin Greece after six years.Ms. Catbagan or ‘Ada’, began her careerin the Department of Foreign Affairs inNovember 1998 as an Assistant in theCash Division of the Office of FiscalManagement. She was assigned asAccount Examiner in the Foreign ServiceAccounting Division from October 20042006, she was temporarily detailed asCollecting Officer at the DFA RegionalConsular Office in San Fernando, LaUnion.She resumed her duties asAccount Examiner at the DFA HeadOffice in October 2006 until herdesignation as Collecting Officer at thePhilippine Embassy in Athens, her firstposting.Ms. Catbagan’s sister, Connie, iscurrently assigned as Collecting Officerin the Philippine Consulate General inMilan, Italy.Ms. Catbagan graduated cum laude fromSaint Louis College in San FernandoCity, La Union in 1998 with a degree inBachelor of Science in Accountancy. Shewas born on 03 April 1978 in SanFernando, La Union. and bids farewell to . . .Mrs.RenellD. in Butuan City. She is married to JoseMartinez and have three children,Martinez is ending her TeresoBrynheld Renelle, Berne Jonathan, andsix-year tour of duty asthe Embassy’s CollectingOfficer this July. Mrs.Martinez was extendedfor another three months beyond her 25March 2007 recall due to the OverseasAbsentee Voting (OAV) and June 12celebrations.Mrs. Martinez began her career in theDepartment of Foreign Affairs inSeptember 1981. She had been assignedto various offices in the Department asConsular Clerk, Records ve Assistant and AdministrativeOfficer.She has attended severalseminars and trainings in the Philippinesand abroad.Mrs. Martinez had been previously postedas Collecting Officer in the PhilippineConsulate in Seattle, USA from 1991 to1993 and in the Philippine ConsulateGeneral in Chicago, USA from 1993 to1996. She arrived in Athens on 25 March2001.She graduated with a degree in PoliticalScience from URIOS College in 1977.She obtained a Bachelor of Science inInternationalRelationsfromtheMindanao State University in 1979, andBachelor of Laws from Manuel L QuezonUniversity (MLQU) in 1984.Mrs. Martinez was born on 22 July 19587PhilippiNew sBruce Edward, of whom she speaksproudly as only a mother can. Following is a Q&A with Mrs. Martinez:Has your stay in Greece for the past six yearsenriched you professionally and socially?Yes, definitely. I became aware that myassignment in Greece as a civil servant is likeworking on call 24 hours a day; and was nevermeant to be a glamorous job. Your workassignments can be multiplied anytime, as theneed arises and you never get the chance towhine. However, if you have the element of lovefor duty and the passion to serve the people, yourwork station would not really make a difference.What was your most memorable experiencein Greece?I have a lot. I realized that in all my postingsabroad, what makes a certain episode in thiscountry worth remembering depends entirely onone’s attitude. One happy thought can makeevery experience most memorable. I treasuredthe memories of my travels, both in and out of thecountry. But the chance to roam every possibleisland and corner of Greece made meunderstand the magnificence of its glorious past.I wish to pause, borrowing Edgar Allan Poe’smost stirring line, “To the glory that wasGreece ”Anything more to say?On behalf of my family, I wish to extend ourprofound gratitude to one and all who, in manyways, made our stay in Greece more pleasantand meaningful. Efharisto parapoli!Letter from CreteThe Filipino Club in Iraklion, Crete wasestablished on 14 January 2007 with thehelp and encouragement of AmbassadorRigoberto “Bobi” Tiglao who visited theisland last January. The objectives of ourorganization are to strengthen the tiesamong the members of the FilipinoCommunity in Crete, and to have smoothcommunication with the Embassy inobtaining some documents needed by ourkababayans in Iraklion. At present, theClub has 57 members from Iraklion andAgios Nicolaos. We are also targeting othernearby towns of Iraklion to unite ourkababayans in Crete.Our club has already helped some of ourmembers through financial assistance andother forms of help such as hospital visitsand counseling. The Filipino Club aims towiden its programs by also extendingassistance to our kababayans in thePhilippines who are affected by calamities inour country.We thank Ambassador Bobi Tiglao and theofficers and staff of the Philippine Embassyfor their wholehearted support. Manythanks to Fr. Peter, our Parish Priest here inIraklion, and to the Couples for Christcommunity headed by Bro. Luis Ilagan.We hope that we will be able to accomplishour goals for the benefit of the Filipinos inIraklion, Crete.Respectfully yours,Johnny P. QuintoChairman, Filipino Club Irakleio CreteWith the Filipino Community, from p.1In the afternoon, parlor games forchildren and adults were held, followedby a raffle draw which included amongits major raffle prizes, (3) round-triptickets courtesy of Thai Airways, KLMRoyal Dutch Airlines, and SingaporeAirlines; 3-day cruise for two fromMonarch Classic Cruises; and acellphone each from Vodafone andWestern Union.A youth bandcompetition organized by OWWAshowcasing the musical talents of theyounger set ended the program. With the Diplomatic Corps, from p.1were also served, courtesy of San MiguelCorporation, which donated the beer, andshipped these all the way from Manila.The holding of the country’s national dayreception at the prestigious Hotel GrandeBretagne, the first time the Philippineembassy has done so, has boosted thePhilippines’ and Filipinos’ prestige inAthens.

8PhilippiNew sLABOR PAGEHow to Become an OWWAMember?Philippine Overseas Labor OfficeThe Overseas Workers WelfareAdministration (OWWA) is a membershipinstitution. As such, its programs, projectsand services are geared towardssafeguarding and promoting the welfareand interests of its members.For a U 25.00 membership contribution,an OWWA member is entitled to variousbenefits and services.Membership in OWWA may be obtainedin two ways:Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC)63-A Katechaki Street, Neo Psychico, AthensTels.: (210)6983335, (210)6982871,(210)6728256ATTY. GEORGE A. EDUVALALabor Attaché (Greece)ATTY. JAIME P. GIMENEZLabor Attaché (Cyprus)JOCELYN O. HAPALWelfare OfficerJEAN V. SANTOSPAG-IBIG RepresentativeCARLOS P. MONTENEGROAdministrative Assistant, POLOMagandang Balita Para SaMga Miyembro Ng Pag-IBIGOverseas Program (POP)!Ibinaba na ang Housing LoanInterest Rate ngayong 2007!Magmula sa pinakamataas na 8%at 14% ay ibinaba na sa 6%hanggang 10.5% kada taon, atitinaas na ang halaga ngmahihiram na pera sa dalawangmilyong piso para sa pabahay namaaaring bayaran sa loob ng lima(5) hanggang dalawampung (20)taon.Para sa karagdagang impormasyontumawag o mag sadya lamang kay:Ms. Jean V. SantosPag-IBIG RepresentativeFilipino Workers’ Resource Center63-A Katechaki St., Neo PsychicoTel. no.: (210) 6983 265Cell phone nos.: 6937124927 at6977425678Ang Pag-IBIG Office ay bukas ng9:00 ng umaga hanggang 5:00 nghapon, Lunes hanggang biyernesat tuwing linggo Mula 2:00 pm –5:00pm.Apr-Jun 2007Benefits and Services forOWWA MembersLife Insurance. A member is covered withlife insurance for the duration of hisemployment contract.The coverageincludes P100,000 for natural death andP200,000 for accidental death.Disability / Dismemberment Benefits. Amember is entitled to disability/dismemberment benefits as a riderprovision of his life insurance.Thecoverage is within the range of P2,000 toP50,000.Total Disability Benefit. A member isentitled to P100,000 in case of total1. By enrollment upon processing of permanent disability.contract at the Philippine OverseasBurial Benefit. A burial benefit of P20,000Employment Administration (POEA)shall be provided in case of the member’s2. By voluntary registration of a would- death.be member at job sites overseas.Pre-Departure Loan and FamilyAssistance Loan. For ready-to-leaveProof of Membershipnewly-hired OFWs and for emergency andThe names of all OWWA members are other family needs, a maximum loan ofmaintain

2 PhilippiNews Apr-Jun 2007 In April 2007, Dr. Marcos R. Fojas, a Filipino ophthalmologist residing in Athens, Greece, was named as one of the Twenty Outstanding Filipinos Abroad (TOFA) by the Filipino Image (FILIMAGE) Magazin