Dr. Marcos Fojas: a much respected ophthalmologist in Greece, with a booming practice at his clinic in the posh Kolonaki diistrict of Athens. Another of our series featuring Filipinos who have distinguished themselves in Greece, making us proud as Filipinos.

Steps for voting at the Embassy : (1)Verify at the list posted at the Embassy’s entrance adn with the Special Board of Election Inspector (SBEI) if his or her name is on the list of registered voters; (2) If he or she is, he or she will be given a ballot and be directed to the voting area. Bring your passport and other identification documents to facilitate identity verification. (3) Using a ballot secrecy folder, an OAV will cast his vote for one president, one vice president, 12 senators, and one party-list group. (3) After voting, fold the accomplished ballot the same way it was given and return it to the SBEI. (4) Affix right thumb mark on space provided on the ballot coupon and on space at the OAV list. (5) The SBEI will detach the ballot coupon (found at the bottom part of the ballot) and it will be deposited to the compartment for spoiled ballots. The SBEI will hand the ballot to the voter who will be instructed to drop it in the compartment for valid ballots.

Voter turnout for the 2010 National Elections appeared strong in Athens, based on the first days of balloting at the Embassy’s premises. “Our kababayans in Athens are demonstrating their strong sense of patriotism by voting in the 2010 elections, “ Philippine Ambassador to Greece Rigoberto Tiglao said. “It is in deeds such as taking the trouble to register and then vote, that one’s love for country is demonstrated,” Tiglao said.

Voting for the 2010 elections started April 10 and will continue up to May 10, the balloting day in the Philippines. The voting precincts are open 9AM up to 5 PM, except for May 10 during which voting will be undertaken only until 1PM. Positions overseas workers will vote on are for President, Vice President, twelve Senators of the Republic, and for one Party for the “Party list” voting.

Philippine Ambassador to Athens Rigoberto Tiglao congratulated 17 March 2010 His Excellency Karolos Papoulias for his reelection by Parliament as President of Greece in a ceremony at the Presidential Palace.President Papoulias is a veteran leader of the ruling PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) party. He is very much respected by all political parties that he was also President even under the previous administration of the New Democracy Party, which lost in the October elections.

Ambassador Tiglao also delivered the congralatory letter to President Papoulias of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

A summary of the accomplishments of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration in terms of the macroeconomic fundamentals, infastructure, agricultural development, and social services.

Madame Getsy S. Tiglao, the wife of Philippine Ambassador to Greece Rigoberto D. Tiglao, has been appointed as the new Honorary President of the Women’s International Club (WIC) of Athens for the incoming year 2010 by the organization’s officers

Nearly three months after it was hijacked, the Greek-owned cargo ship Filitsa, with 19 Filipino and three Greek seamen on board, was released by Somali pirates in the afternoon of 1 February.

For the Filipino community’s information, follows are the facts regarding the plight of the Aetea Sierra’s Filipino crew, and the Philippijne Embassy-Philippine Oversease Labor Office’s assistance to the Philippine seamen’s plight. We do hope this would clear the issue, debunk misinformation being spread on the case, and affirm the fact that the Embassy and the POLO have been doing all it can to assist the Filipino crewmen.

The supertanker Maran Centaurus and its 28-man crew, 16 of whom are Filipinos, were released by Somali pirates at 8:30 a.m. (Greece time) today 18 January and is now headed for Durban, South Africa, escorted by a Greek naval ship.
The Filipino crew released are as follows: Vincent M. Ombid; Marvin P. Montecillo; Movo T. Aragon; Allan Bayocboc; Salvador Quiocho; Paul Anthony Piraza; Ulysis T. Velasquez; Eric A. Castro; Fermin A. Panaligan, Jr.; Vincent C. Amante ; Lester C. Estrada ; Jessie B. Basalo; Ezemar Vlla Soreso ; Franscisco de Guzman ; Ronald F. Lecitivo; and Henry Suano.

Ambassador Rigoberto D. Tiglao reminded Filipinos in Greece and Athens that the overseas absentee voting will be held at the Athens Embassy from 10 April 2010 to 10 May 2010, from 9AM to 5 PM at the premises of the Philippine Embassy at 26 Antheon St., Paleo Psychico, Athens. ” I appeal to our kababayans registered as overseas voters at the Athens embassy to exercise this democratic right, and duty, and make sure that they will be in Athens during the month-long voting period,” the Ambassador said.