Ambassador Tiglao’s first official visit to Cyprus
21st October 2006
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By Carmen Dolores Brazan B. Llauderes
Philippine Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Rigoberto Tiglao arrived in Cyprus last 27 September 2006 from Athens, Greece purposely to present his credentials to Cyprus President Tassos Papadopolous. In his first official visit, Honorable Tiglao met with government officials and discussed the issues concerning Filipinos staying and working in this land and the recent closure of the Philippine Honorary Consulate Office.
According to the Ambassador, Cyprus President Papadopolous expressed concern on these matters and assured to take a diplomatic action to solve them. The Ambassador aimed to speak with the Ministry of Labor regarding claims of Social Insurance of Filipino workers, in addition to the other necessary help and assistance given to those who are in trouble. In the absence of the Philippine Honorary Consul, Ambassador Tiglao is said to convince the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to send either an Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) officer or a Labor Attache to look after the welfare of OFWs in Cyprus.
Tiglao was welcomed by some Filipino leaders from Limassol, Nicosia, Pafos and Paralimni namely Arnel Ambon, Marivic Balachica, Marites Caligtan, Amie Cortez, Elizabeth Fernandez, Bong Jusi, Primrose Lomas, Emma ‘Emong’ Pedroso, Anna Lizza Salvacion, Jennifer Saydawan, Rosalie Veniega, Nemeul Yearnaguirre and this writer.
In more than an hour talk with the Filipino leaders mentioned above, Ambassador Tiglao urged them to unite and help one another especially so that at present there is no government official representative in Cyprus. He encouraged everyone to group together to inform the Philippine government in Manila about the varied work-related problems which Filipinos are facing, and further cited the involvement of media as a forceful voice. He said that a media is a very helpful medium to voice out complaints, issues and problems and he planned to set up a Filipino media press conference in the future to be heard widely.
In parting, Ambassador Tiglao asked the Filipino community to wait at least 2-3 months for the Philippine government to set up a new consulate office in Cyprus. There is a consular services from time to time, but it is too expensive to come to Cyprus every now and then, as what the ambassador’s secretary Ms. Cielo Gamayon stated.
Meanwhile, passport renewals, OWWA and PAGIBIG applications are available from few official Filipino volunteers namely Emma ‘Emong’ Pedroso with contact number +35799804952 and Primrose Lomas with contact number +35799879354. Applicants can also contact the consular officer Rennel Martinez at telephone number +306974143064 in Athens, Greece for more details and information.