I had wanted to, and expected to to be back in Manila end-June.  In fact I started 24 June 2010 a regular Thursday column  at the Philippine Daily Inquirer as I had expected to be back by the end of the month, especially since it had a standing policy of not allowing government officials to have a regular opinion column in the newspaper.

Romulo had assured me that my stay would be extended first on 15 September and then on 9 September.

However President Aquino later on decided not to extend my stay. I learned only 8 October from an editor in Manila who directly talked to the President that he would not extend my stay.  I received  the official memorandum on this from Sec. Romulo  only 15 October.

Exploiting children, although Valencia obviously thinks this is cute. A Filipina and a Bangladeshi boy pictured in his Munting Nayon leaflet begging for donations.

Mr. Valencia himself is on a fund-raising campaign, as his  Munting Nayon school, which  is one of his main  sources of income  (he has never held a regular job nor a business) is  in dire straits. It had been ordered  closed January 2010 by the Education Ministry because its poor facilities threaten  children’s safety.

Valencia has been raising funds, more than the nursery reasonably needs, by bleeding-heart appeals for money from Greeks and NGO, even stressing that 20% of its students are foreigners. He is deceiving donors as he portrays Munting Nayon as the only kindergarten for Filipinos in Athens when in fact Kaphilca’s kindergarten has been operating since 1997, and recognized by the Ministry of Education.

The amount he says the school needs is astounding. The  Kasapi Hellas’  website  http://www.kasapi.gr/04/munting-nayon-letter-of-appeal/#more-14) says, “we will have to carry out repairs to the existing building at a cost of over 180,000 euros.” That is a huge, suspicious amount for repairs, even in Athens.

snapshot of Valencia appeal for cash for his school

Valencia’s website even encourages donors to directly send their donation to what could be his or his wife’s bank account. “Support our campaign,” the website says, “by depositing the amount to the following  account, ” which suspiciously is unnamed: National Bank of Greece Account Number: 100/296034-60. Valencia has not submitted to the nursery’s other officers nor to Kasapi Hellas an accounting of donations he has so far received.

Enrollment officially started on September 1, 2009 and formal classroom instruction started on September 7, 2009.

The school, which integrated the former KAPHILCA elementary school, the Philippine Learning Center, and KAPHILCA’s high school arm, has been in existence for the past three years in its location at No. 64 Pontou Street, Ambelokipi.

PSG-KAPHILCA is the only Philippine inAthens with permit to operate from the Greek Ministry of Education.  It is the only Philippine school in Europe that is accredited by the Philippine Department of Education to offer the Basic Education Curriculum in all three levels:  preschool, elementary and secondary.

PSG-KAPHILCA is also the only school in Europe that offers a well-balanced Filipino education to the Filipino child, giving equal focus on both the academic and the co-curricular aspects of basic education.

The school’s Tinig Kabataan Choir and its Dance Troupe have undergone rigid training during the past years to the point of professionalism so that the two cultural groups can be on call any time for cultural presentations before Filipino, Greek, and international audiences.

In addition, the school is proceeding with its sports development program. Teams in basketball, volleyball, table tennis, and other sports are being organized and regular weekly trainings have already started at the Zografou municipal gymnasium.  These team which will participate during the Intramural sports competition during the school’s Foundation Day celebrations.

These co-curricular activities are held without prejudicing classroom instruction which will also be intensified to the point of academic excellence.

The new textbooks that the school ordered from the Philippines have arrived and are now awaiting release by the Customs office of Greece.

On the administrative side, the school is pursuing efforts to find a new building suitable for its increasing enrollment and compliant with Greek standards for school buildings.  The school is already authorized by  the Greek government to hire Filipino teachers from the Philippines with family visas.   Its teachers have teaching permits from the Greek Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs.

This school year, the school has institutionalized its scholarship program under the Revitalized Adopt-a-Scholar Program which has secured full-tuition scholarships for 4 years—for 6 children and another 7 partial-tuition scholarships, also for 4 years.  Meanwhile, several more sponsors have pledged additional scholarships.  This is in line with the thrust of the school towards better service rather than profit.

A recent development this school year was the 5-day visit of Department of Education Undersecretary Ramon C. Bacani, upon the invitation of Ambassador Tiglao. He visited the school to check on the school’s compliance with DepEd regulations in connection with the school’s application for permanent recognition  of its elementary and pre-elementary levels.  Both levels have already been granted full permits after the visit of CFO Executive Director Jose Z. Molano Jr. and DFA Minister Dumia, both of the Inter-Agency Committee for Philippine Schools Overseas (IAC-PSO), in May 2006.

Principal Roberto Fresnido, the Faculty, and Staff

The Philippine delegation was composed of SSS Commissioner Ms. Fe Tibayan-Palileo (head of delegation), SSS VP for International Affairs Judy Frances See, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, (Philhealth) President and CEO, Dr. Jesus Reynaldo Aquino, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Vice President for Membership Operations, Mr. Arni Mercado, and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) representative, Mr. Emilio Fernandez (Office of European Affairs).

The Embassy’s Deputy Chief Mission Maria Fe  Pangilinan and Labor Attaché to Greece Atty. George Eduvala formed part of the Philippine delegation from Athens, and were present during the proceedings.
The scope of the agreement includes the old age or pension benefits, survivorship/death benefits, and disability benefits.

During the negotiations proper, it was agreed upon that the relevant forms for claims, and for referrals to the liaison body, shall be coursed through diplomatic channels.

It was also mentioned that the signing of the agreement will be arranged and agreed upon at a later date. 

Hundreds of Filipinos gathered at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) at Nicosia to register as overseas absentee voters. A total of 102 Filipinos at Nicosia registered as new overseas absentee voters.

Consular services were also rendered in the adjoining office of the Philippine honorary consul.The team processed 58 MRP applications.

About 2,000 Filipinos are reported to be residing at Nicosia.

On 1-2 August 2009 the Philippine Embassy in Athens sent a consular outreach and OAV registration teams to Larnaca and Limassol in the Republic of Cyprus.

The mission was coordinated through one of the leaders of the Filipino  at Larnaca,, Mr. Bong Cusi. The activity took place in the premises of the Sta. Tierra Church at Larnaca. The team was also assisted by Ms Gina Maandig from the office of the Philippine honorary consul and by Ms Liza Jataas who was Pag-Ibig’s  and OWWA’s volunteer at Larnaca.

At Limassol, the RCBC’s general manager Ms. Belinda Stylianou and Ms Ching Tabasa-Harris assisted and coordinated the activity of the embassy’s consular outreach and OAV registration teams held in the premises of the RCBC office at Limassol.

The consular outreach team accepted 49 MRP applications, 4 replacements of lost passports, 4 notarials and 4 passport verifications.

A total of 197 new OAV registrants, 35 applications for certification of registration and 8 applications for transfer of registration records were processed.

The book-launching was practically a jampacked reunion of anti-Marcos dictatorship activists – including President Corazon Aquino, Senator Joker Arroyo, and former Vice President Teofisto Guingona – representing the entire political spectrum.
Mr. Psinakis’ ancestors were from Crete, although they settled in the greater area of Sparta. As fate would have it, he ended up in the Philippines in the 1950s working for Meralco, and marrying Precy Lopez, the only daughter of the tycoon Eugenio Lopez. With the Marcos dictatorship persecuting the Lopez family starting 1972, with the Lopez scion Eugenio II put in prison, Psinakis, in exile in the US with his wife, became a key figure in the anti-Marcos movement to the extent that the dictator Marcos labeled him a ‘terrorist’. Mr. Psinakis’ book is both a personal memoir and an account of the struggle against the Marcos dictatorship. The book’s title, “A Country Not Even His Own,” is actually President Corazon Aquino’s words as inscribed in her formal citation to Mr. Psinakis in 1986 for his “Outstanding Service to Philippine Democracy.”

A Greek edition of Mr. Psinakis book is scheduled to be launched this October in Athens, published by the prestigious publishing company, Publications Fereniki. Mr. Psinakis has two nephews living in Athens, businessman Mr. Yorgos Psinakis, who has been very supportive of the Philippine Embassy, and the entertainment-industry executive, Mr. Ilias Psinakis.

Following is Ambassador Tiglao’s speech:

It is my honor and pleasure to speak on a book I and my wife Getsy enjoyed very much reading in the past few days, written by somebody whom I respect very much.

When Yorgos Psinakis, Steve’s nephew, who has become a dear friend of ours in Athens asked me to be one of the speakers tonight, there was no way for me to excuse myself. Steve probably doesn’t know that this but I owe him.

I had used Steve’s name without permission in Athens.

You see, when an ambassador presents his credential to the head of state of the host government, it is customary to have an audience with the head of state. This usually lasts at the most only 10 minutes, with the conversation really a ritual of sorts involving general statements, with each party trying hard not to appear bored.

I presented my credentials to President Karolos Papoulias in May 2006, and I was one of four ambassadors who did so in that mornnig.

When I remarked to him that there is a Greek who played a major role in our revolution against a dictatorship, his face brightened, and that was the start of a very lively conversation, with the President becoming keenly interested in the Philippines. This Greek of course is none other than Stavros Psinakis.

To appreciate Papoulias’ delight in hearing a Greek’s role in a revolution against a dictatorship, you have to remember that and Greece and the Philippines share parallel histories.

Both countries were under colonial masters for four centuries. We, by the Christian Spanish. Greece, by the Muslim Turks. This is one reason why both Greeks and Filipinos are passionate about freedom, why Filipinos and Greeks, I would say, are soul-brothers.

In modern times, Greece was under martial law for seven years under a junta of colonels, which were overthrown in 1974. We had our martial law era, about which Stavros’ book tells about.

Greek President Papoulias was a well-known socialist and an activist against the Junta. Similar to Stavros’ experience when he campaigned against the Marcos dictatorship in the US, Papoulias was abroad, in Germany, when the colonels grabbed power and he campaigned against the junta all over Europe.

So when I told President Papoulias that somehow there has been a strong Philippine Greek conection through Mr. Psinakis here, he was delighted and told me to get in touch with him if there is anything the Philippine embassy needs.

One big reason I found reading Stavros book extremely interesting is that I discovered something I didn’t know before, which is of personal interest to me.

In chapter 5 of Steve’s book, he relates the hunger strike in November 1974 of Mr. Geny Lopez and Senator Osmena after two years in a Marcos prison, and how Marcos broke his word when the two political prisoners ended their strike and the dictatorship, instead of freeing them, accused them of attempts to kill him.

To counteract the negative political impact to the regime of Mr. Lopez and Senator Osmena’s hunger strike, Marcos released 622 political prisoners to project an image that his was a humane dictatorship. To quote Steve’s book:

“The hunger strike of the two prisoners did not result in their own release, but it was not in vain. It resulted in the release of 622 other political prisoners”

One of those prisoners was my late wife, Raquel, who was released that December. The other one was yours truly, although I was released months later, in March the next year – nearly two years after I was imprisoned.

So it’s never too late to express gratitude: thank you, Senator Osmena, and I thank the late Geny’s family, and of course I thank Steve, the man who planned the Great Escape.

This brings me to why I think Steve’s book is important to our national consciousness, that it is not merely your ordinary memoir.

I had lived through much of the political turmoil Steve described in the book, and I spent two years of my life in Marcos prisons.

Many lives were lost, many lives were destroyed during those years, many of whom in the prime of their youth, really teen-agers or in their early twenties dreaming of creating a prosperous society of justice and freedom.

It is said that many of the best and the brightest of that generation of youth in the 70s were either killed or imprisoned by the regime, went underground to fight the dictatorship, or escaped abroad in a move that started the phenomenon of massive Filipino migration abroad.

And I find it extremely revolting that some who were propagandists or officials of that dictatorship claim that we have martial law today, or a version of it.

The reason for such rather falsehoods is that we have started to forget what Steve called in his book as the Dark Years. We have forgotten how ugly a martial law regime is, so much that some even taunt adventurists in the military to take over our democratic system.

Steve’s book indeed is a major contribution to our collective memory. His chapter on the assassination of Ninoy Aquino is a manifesto demanding for our nation to finally solve that murder that sparked a revolution.

But Steve’s book is also an account of a truly authentic life, how a human being can celebrate life in all its facets, from enjoying the magical days with one’s beloved, children, and friends to struggling for a noble ideal. What more in life can you ask for?
Thank you, and congratulations again to Steve, to Precy, and also to their daughter, Geni and their nephew, Yorgos.

The Women’s International Club of Athens (WIC) selected the Philippines to make a presentation of the different varieties of Philippine dishes — the Filipino cuisine which was held at the Ambassador’s residence last November 27, 2008.

This is the second time this year that the WIC has requested the Philippines to make a cultural presentation.   The first one of which, “Meet my Country” was held last April at the Philippine embassy.

The Women’s International Club of Athens (WIC) is a prestigious international club which has chapters all over the world and its members are from the elite Greek society, wives of ambassadors and lady members of the diplomatic corps.

The Ethnic cooking session, as the event was called is one of the many activities of the WIC of which the idea is to learn the different cuisines, style of cooking and the type of food of each foreign member.

Like the “Meet my Country”, playing host to the event is the indefatigable, chic and lovely wife of Ambassador Rigoberto D. Tiglao, Mme Getsy S. Tiglao. She has been a member of the WIC and of the Ethnic cooking circle since two years ago.

Mme Getsy Tiglao presented the event with highlights of Filipino hospitality and atmosphere of Philippine fiesta for the ladies to feel the typical ambiance of Philippine setting that exemplifies and portrays our country’s tradition.  Philippine paintings depicting harvest and other local scenes by Filipino painters mounted on the walls of the residence accentuated the Filipino flavor of the occasion.

Before the cooking demonstration, Mme Tiglao made a short introduction about Philippine cuisine: “Many people have asked me what Philippine food is.  I say that Philippine food is the original fusion cuisine as it blends the best of the East and West.  The overriding elements are the indigenous or Malay base, the Chinese and Spanish.  The influences of all these foreign cultures, combined with our own indigenous cooking style and traditions have resulted in a uniquely our own, and one of the world’s best cuisines.” The roster of Pinoy fiesta dishes that was presented for cooking demonstration were Sinigang na Salmon, Chicken Adobo, Lumpia and Pancit Canton.

The ladies were treated to an authentic taste of Filipino cuisine for lunch.  They started off with the comforting hot soup of Sinigang na Salmon followed by the main entrée Chicken Adobo, Pancit Bihon, Lumpiang Shanghai, Crab Relleno, Tsipoura Escabeche and culminating in the dessert: Maja Blanca and Leche Flan. Mango and Pineapple juices were served for drinks.

The WIC ladies had a wonderful time and enjoyed themselves. In her toast remarks, Ms Bridget Coscoros, current president of the WIC, said, “Thank you very much for your charming hospitality today, clearly enjoyed by everyone.  Congratulations to you.”

In response, Mme Tiglao thanked everyone who attended saying, “This is truly a memorable and meaningful gathering which you and the Club allowed us to give you a glimpse of what Filipino Cuisine is – and in the process give you an experience of what Filipino hospitality is all about.”

This event, the Philippines once again through the untiring efforts of Mme Getsy Tiglao, was able to host and launch a successful cultural experience that would no doubt contribute to the further enhancement of our image in Greece.

Maj. Yoko Ramos-Vingno, wife of Consul General Constancio Vingno, is a reserve officer of the Philippine Army.  She is a freelance writer.

Last 16 December 2008, Philippine Ambassador to Greece Rigoberto Tiglao graced the Philippines’ official turnover of its chairmanship of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) to the Hellenic Republic.

DFA OUMWA Undersecretary Esteban Conejos, Chair of the Second Meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), handed over the chairmanship to Greece.

The two previous meetings were held in Belgium and the Philippines in 2007 and 2008, respectively.  The Third GFMD Meeting will be held in Athens from 2 to 5 November 2009.

In his hand-over speech, Undersecretary Conejos said that the Manila GFMD was “another big milestone on an ever widening and lengthening road towards better understanding and addressing the links between migration and development. “

With more than 1130 delegates participants representing some 163 Member States and Observers of the United Nations, 33 international organizations and 220 participants in the Civil Society meeting, the Manila GFMD is the first in Asia and the largest conference on migration and development outside the UN system, gathering a distinguished assembly of policy makers and experts on migration and development from all world regions.

After two meetings in Brussels and Manila , the GFMD established its credentials as a voluntary, informal and government-led process that continually advances understanding and cooperation, and fosters practical and action-oriented outcomes on the mutually reinforcing relationship between migration and development. Its informality and interactive focus on concrete and cooperative solutions to today’s challenges sets it apart from other, more formal processes that can tend to get stuck on points of doctrine or form.

The Philippine GFMD focused on the human face of migration with its central theme, “Protecting and Empowering Migrants for Development.”  Drawing from its hard-won experiences (both good and bad) of more than 30 years in protecting and supporting its expatriate workers, the Philippines showcased its “life-cycle” approach to protecting migrants in every step of the migration cycle. At the Manila GFMD, the Philippines shared how legal and institutional mechanisms of protection could empower migrant Filipinos to better contribute to their personal, institutional, and national development.

As Undersecretary Conejos explained, “It is first and foremost people that link our countries – not just the capital or goods that economists love to build their development and growth models on. It is people that stimulate the trade, business and economic exchanges that keep the global economy moving.”

“People are our biggest national asset at any time in the course of our social, economic and political development.  Economic development cannot occur without human development, that is, without human beings who are healthy, educated, employed, and able to care for their families,” Undersecretary Conejos added.

The Undersecretary further elaborated on the concept of shared responsibility for better protecting migrants, citing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s statement at the opening of the Manila GFMD that “Globalization should be for everyone, not just for the fittest. We need a world, where we are all equally part of a “caring and sharing” global community.”

As outgoing GFMD Chair, Undersecretary Conejos conveyed his hope that Greece will carry on the two overriding achievements of the Manila GFMD, namely, continuity and change: continuing and advancing the process of consultation and collaboration begun in Brussels last year, and changing the way the world looks at migration and development.

Undersecretary Conejos also affirmed the readiness of the Philippines to assist the Greek Chair in the challenging task of organizing the Third Meeting of the GFMD. He likewise expressed full support for the chosen theme of the Hellenic Republic , i.e., “Integrating Migration Policies in Development Strategies for the Benefit of All.”  He lauded the Hellenic Republic ’s objective of promoting development for all, so that migration becomes a matter of option and not a necessity for migrant citizens.