Ambassador Tiglao congratulating first scholar Eden Mae Catillo, with her mohter Lilia.

12 Feb. 2010 – Eden Mae M. Castillo, college freshman, is the first awardee of the Philippine Ambassador’s  scholarship under an agreement signed only two months ago by  University of Indianapolis (Athens campus) Chancellor Vasilis Botopoulos and  Ambassador Rigoberto Tiglao.

The Philippine Ambassador’s Scholarship provides for a  70% tuition assistance to a Filipino for an undergraduate college degree at the prestigious University of Indianapolis (Athens Campus).

Under the agreement with the University, the Philippine Ambassador to Athens recommends the student who would avail of the scholarship. The only requirement is for the scholar to maintain an average grade of B.

Eden, as she is fondly called by her friends and teachers, is an alumna of the Philippine School in Greece- Katipunan Philippine Cultural Academy. She was very active with the different school’s activities. She was a member of the Kabataang Tinig Choir and the PSG Dance Troupe.

She also became the president of the student council in 2007-2008. Her teachers considered

One of UINDY's campuses in central Athens.

her as a smart, diligent and responsible student. She also has good leadership skills.

Already considered an above-averge student at the University in the first semester,  she is ‘living proof’ of the quality of education provided by the Philippine School in Greece-Kaphilca, the Ambassador remarked.

She is now pursuing her college degree at the prestigious University of Indianapolis-Athens (UINDY-Athens). Eden says she is looking forward to taking either an A.B. Psychology or Arts and Communications degree.

She says she found the University of Indianapolos-Athens not only  an excellent and ideal place to learn, but  also a community in which administrators, teachers, and fellow

Ambassador Tiglao and University Chancellor Botopoulos

students are very friendly and helpful.

Eden Mae M. Castillo was born on March 09, 1991 in Antipolo City, Philippines.  She is the eldest daughter of Mr. Eduardo Bruce Castillo and Mrs. Lilia M. Castillo and a sister to Despina Joy Castillo.

The University of Indianapolis-Athens is not merely a franchise or a branch of the American university.  It is academically and legally categorized as a campus of the university.

The other forms of  “Ambassador’s Scholarships” Ambassador Tiglao had arranged with the University of Indianapolis (Athens Campus)  include five undergraduate  scholarships providing for a 25% tuition assistance and another five graduate-school scholarships also providing a 25% tuition assistance.

In addition to these “Ambassador’s Scholarships”, the MOU provides for a General undergraduate scholarships which will grant a 20% tuition assistance for undergraduate studies  for  a child or spouse of an employee of the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine School in Greece as well as for a graduate of the Philippine School in Greece .

There is also a General graduate scholarship program  which provides for a 20% tuition assistance for graduate studies of  an employee, child or spouse of the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine School employee at UINDY Athens.

Filipinos wanting to avail of these scholarships may contact Culural Attache Ms. Joanne David at the Philippine Embassy. #

The Philippine Daily Inquirer frontpage on the article.

BPO Arroyo’s $7-B legacy 

President: “It’s now second biggest global earner”

Philippine Daily Inquirer
 02/05/2010 

DAVAO CITY — Four days into her tour of the country’s “cyber corridor,” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said she would be turning over to the next administration a call center industry that had become the second biggest global earner and one capable of elevating the nation to First World status.

Madame Getsy S. Tiglao

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.

Mrs. Tiglao said that she considers it a great honour to have been chosen as the President Emeritus of the WIC, a prestigious women’s organization with chapters all over the world. She is the first Filipino to be picked as Honorary President of the Club.

Mrs. Tiglao is  a veteran  journalist and  former  editor-in-chief of Inq7.net,  which had been the joint news website of the Philppine Daily Inquirer and GMA-7.   She has been a member of the WIC since 2006 and is an active participant of its Ethnic Cooking Circles and other activities.

WIC-Athens was founded over 30 years ago, and it believes in fostering friendship and mutual understanding among women of different nationalities, and aims to contribute to the cultural development of women in general.

The incoming President for 2010 of WIC is Olga Roupas from Greece; Vice President Siu Ling Versluys from HongKong-China; Treasurer Pepita Wahren from Finland; Hospitality Officer Mariola Ipsilant from Poland; Programme Officer Leopoldine Theophanopoulos from Germany; Membership Officer Sharon Chelmis from New Zealand; Corresponding Secretary Liz Moffat from the United Kingdom; Recording Secretary Charu Batra from India; Activities Officers Loukia Nicola-Tsigos from Cyprus and Evie Makris from USA; Publications Officer Maria Freitas from Brazil; Auditors Mary-Lou Theodore from USA and Charlotte Scarpidis from USA; and Alternative Auditors Penny Smith from Ireland and Denise Nairn from the UK.

Somali pirate with Filitsa in the background

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, its manager  Order Shipping Co. Ltd.  reported  to the labor  office of the Phileppine embassy in Athens.

The ship headed for Mombasa, Kenya where the crew will disembark.

The bulk carrier, with a Marshall Islands flag,  was hijacked by Somali pirates on November 11, 2009,  513 nautical miles northeast of Seychelles. The ship was enroute to Durban, South Africa  from Kuwait.  The Filipino crewmen were recruited by Bright Maritime Co., a Philippine manning agency.

Filitsa’s Filipino crew are as follows:

1. Honorato Cuadrasal, 2^nd Mate
2. Raul Labitad, 3^rd Mate
3. Julio Alpaya Sangre, 2^nd Engr
4. Reuben Campos, 3^rd Engr
5. Rolan Gadian, 4thEngr
6. Lucian Jipa, Electrician
7. Kenneth Paul De Gracia, Bosun
8. Edgar Halas, AB
9. Romeo Pamplona Jr. AB

10.  Melecio D. Abellera, AB

11.  Arnold Retana, Oiler

12.  Wilfredo Abuloc, Oiler

13.  Jenifer Espia, Oiler

14.  Roy Anthony Rosell, Cook

15.  Rodante Calamba, Galley Boy

16.  Carmelo Bongay, Jr., DTrainee

17.  Rafael Flaminiano, DTrainee

18.  Ronald Nicor, C/Trainee

19.  Robert Pozon, C/Trainee

NEWS REPORT FROM BBC.COM:

Pirates in Somalia have released the Greek-owned cargo ship Filitsa and its crew of 22 after a ransom was paid, Greek officials said.

The crew of three Greek officers and 19 Filipino sailors are reported to be in good condition.

The vessel was seized off the Seychelles on 11 November as it carried chemicals to South Africa.

The ransom was paid earlier on Monday but the ship’s owner, Order Shipping, refused to say how much was paid.

A Greek coast guard statement said the Filitsa was heading for the Kenyan port of Mombasa, Associated Press reported.

The waters around Somalia are among the most dangerous in the world, despite patrols from the naval forces of the US, Nato, the European Union and China.

In recent months, pirates have begun to take ships further out to sea from the coast of Somalia.

The war-torn country has had no functioning government since 1991, allowing pirates to operate along the lawless coast, almost with impunity.

]]> http://www.athenspe.net/latest-news/pirates-release-cargo-ship-filitsa-with-19-filipino-crewmen/feed/ 0 http://www.athenspe.net/latest-news/ambassador-tiglao-at-the-presidents-21-january-reception/ http://www.athenspe.net/latest-news/ambassador-tiglao-at-the-presidents-21-january-reception/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:48:15 +0000 staff http://www.athenspe.net/?p=1338 Photos of Ambassador Rigoberto Tiglao at the Greek government’s New Year’s reception 21 January 2010 at the Presidential Palace,  greeting President Karolos Papoulias, Prime Minister and concurrent Foreign Minister George Papandreou, and Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas.

With Greek President Karolos Papoulias,

With Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou

With Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitri Droutsas

The Aetea Sierra

For the Filipino community’s information, follows are the facts regarding the plight of the Aetea Sierra’s Filipino crew.   At the outset of this episode, the embassy had pursued the path to immediate repatriation (for more background on the case, see previous article (Aetea Sierra crew’s plight nears end, 26 Dec. 2009):

1. As soon as the Embassy was informed of the Aetea Sierra’s plight, on 30 September 2009,   it dispatched a  letter to POEA the following day requesting  plane tickets for the crew under the Migrant Workers Act;
2. Crewmembers were informed of the letter and requested to just wait for the tickets per assurance from the Phil. Manning Agent;
3. While waiting for the tickets, there was constant communication with them; questions like if they have enough food and other basic needs; informed us that such items are being provided by the ship owner;
4. We offered to  shelter them in the FWRC in the meantime  if their condition would prompt them to do so;
5. 2^nd Week of October, Engr. Hantic, one of the crewmen,  sent a text message that they would not leave the ship until their salaries-in-arrears are not paid;
6. On October 26, 2009, POLO team headed by the LABATT together with Atty. Pavlakis, a lawyer who has had a good track record in handling cases of Filipino seamen,  went to the ship and talked with the crew, eleven of whom had already engaged the services of an ITF lawyer to pursue the case;
7. Engr. Hantic however declined the services of the ITF lawyer, so the Embassy offered to him the services of  Atty. Pavlakis, who had been successful in handing many cases of Filipino seamen; and,
8. During that time, the seafarers were informed that their salaries and other money claims can be filed in the Philippines as their manning agent is liable under Philippine labor law.
9. The Embassy and the Labor Office  exerted every effort to keep the lines of communication with the crew open, and were assured that they were getting the necessary provisions on the ship.

Piraeus court issues order favorable to the 12 seafarers

The Piraeus court 21December 2009 ruled in favor of the  12 seamen.

The lawyers of the 12 Filipino seamen on board mv Aetea Sierra also confirmed that the ship is set for auction on 17 February 2010 to pay the wages awarded by the court in its order of 21 December 2009 unless the ship owner, Aetea Sierra Maritime Company, Ltd.  pay the seamen before that date.

In its order of 21 December, the Court of First Instance of Piraeus directed the immediate payment of 132,963.32 euros (about $190,000) to the 12 seamen, as follows:

The court based its award on prevailing Greek standards (law and collective agreements), not on the POEA contracts signed by the seamen, and covered the period from the start of their contract up to 9 November 2009. Comparing the award to the original demand of six of the seamen:

For higher ranked seamen, however, the wage differentials are less as one can see above.

According to the lawyers, Attys. Thanasis Alykatoras of the ITF and Christos Moschos of Pavlakis-Moschos Law Offices, the court also ordered that the additional amount of 195,000 euros (or $277,000) be secured to be collected for the seamen at a later stage of the case.

The Filipino crewmembers are  waiting for the arrival of their replacements so that they could return to the Philippines and rejoin their families. Meanwhile, their wages will accrue, based on the favorable Greek standards, until they are fully paid, that is, while they stay in Greece. Eleven of them have already completed their contracts.

The Piraeus court award was calculated using Greek wage standard which is about four times more than what they would have received on wages stipulated in their contracts. The awards for the remaining 11 Filipino seamen are yet to be calculated by use of the same standard.

The Ambassador had sent  two letters, on 23 December 2009 and 14 January 2010. Minister of Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping Ms. Louka Katseli requesting her to allow the return to the Philippines of the said seamen as soon as possible even before the arrival of the relief crew.  Unfortunately the Minister has not responded yet.

(Convention among sailors and the shipping industry is that a crew cannot just abandon a ship – unless their lives are in immediate danger as in the case of a sinking ship — unless there is a replacement crew, as a crewless ship especially near a port, and  because it could be unmoored and buffeted by the tides, poses danger to other ships.)

On 1 December 2009, the embassy dispatched two of its staff on board Aetea Sierra to supply the Filipino seafarers with Filipino  food as they were missing their country’s own cuisine.  This action was repeated shortly before Christmas and communications with them remained open to ensure that they were in good condition on the ship.

The Embassy continues to be in touch with the Aetea Sierra crew.

There is no question that the crew must be allowed to return as soon as possible to their home.  But as the ITF lawyer Atty. Alykatoras had emphasized to the crew and to the Embassy: “We must all realize that we have to wait for the decision of the court.”

The hijacked supertanker Maran Centaurus (from vesseltracker.com)

(18 Jan. 2010).  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  and is now headed for Durban, South Africa, escorted by a Greek naval ship.

Maran Centaurus, a Greek 300,294- dwt tanker,  was hijacked some 762 miles off the coast of Somalia on November 29, 2009 enroute to New Orleans, USA from Mina Al Ahmadi, Kuwait.  The vessel had on board nine Greeks, two Ukranians, one Romanian and 16 Filipinos. It has been the biggest vessel, as well as the farthest from the Somali coast,  hijacked  by the Somali pirates, facts which created a shock wave in the global shipping industry.

Capt. Manthos Koutsothanasis, the crew manager of Maran Tankers Management Inc., informed the Athens Philippine Embassy labor office that the crew had undergone medical check-up and were found to be all well. Their manning agent in the Philippines is Friendly Maritime Services, Inc.

A  New York Times article claimed that, a ransom of $5.5 to 7 million was dropped yesterday, the biggest ever paid to the Somali pirates,  followed by a feud among the pirates which caused a delay in the release of the ship.

Maran Centaurus was carrying about 2 million barrels of oil worth roughly $150 million. The hijacking of Maran Centaurus is thus  considered the largest and most audacious highjacking in maritime history. It was only the second oil tanker captured by Somali pirates ever. The Saudi-owned Sirius Star, with a crew of 25 men, was hijacked on 15 November last year. The 330-meter ship held 2 million barrels of oil valued at about $100 million and was released on 11 January 2009 upon payment of a $3 million ransom, the largest ever paid at that time.

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.

The Athens Philippine Embassy labor office  continues to monitor the conditions and safety of 37 other Filipino seamen on board two Greek-owned ships –Filitsa and Navi Apollon – seized by Somali pirates on 11 November and 28 December 2009, respectively, and now berthed off the coast of Somalia. There are 22 more Filipino seamen on three other ships owned each by Taiwanese, Thai and British companies, also hijacked by the pirates. Atty. George Eduvala, Labor Attache

However,  the law on overseas voting however specified  that Filipinos voting in the Embassy or Consulate in the country where they reside or work must have registered there first, which is a different registration from what they may have done in the Philippines.

File photo of Somali pirates about to hijack a ship. Courtesy of trekearth.com

By Atty. George Eduvala, Labor Attache

Hijacking of ships by Somali pirates had worsened in the last months of last year, and the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Athens in all cases involving Filipino seamen are in close contact with the ship owners, managers, and manning agencies involved as well as with Greek authorities in order to ensure the safety of Filipino seamen in such ships.

Ambassador Rigoberto Tiglao has been monitoring closely these events, and keeping the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alberto G. Romulo posted on developments, and even talking directly with ship owners in order to ensure the safety of Filipino seamen in hijacked ships.

Presently there are 53  Filipino seamen still held by pirates on three Greek-owned ships – Filitsa, Maran Centaurus and Navios Apollon – seized by Somali pirates in November-December 2009 and now berthed off the coast of Somalia.  There are additionally 22  other Filipino seamen still on three other ships owned each by Taiwanese, Thai and British companies, also hijacked by the pirates off Somalia.

The three Greek-owned ships are as follows:

• The 23,709 dwt cargo ship Filitsa, captured on November 11 is a Marshall Islands-flagged ship whichwas heading from Kuwait to Durban, South Africa when it was attacked 500 miles northeast of the Seychelles.  Order Shipping Co., the vessel’s operating company,  keeps the POLO posted on developments nearly every day and has assured the office  of the crew’s safety as well as  the continuing efforts of the company to bring the matter – now almost two months long – to an early settlement.

• The oil tanker Maran Centaurus, 332 meters in length, was sailing from Kuwait to New Orleans, USA when it was seized on November 29 near the Seychelles carrying around two million barrels of crude oil. Somali pirates captured Maran Centaurus 762 miles (1,200 kilometers) east of Somalia.  It was then the farthest afield that the Somali pirates had ever struck. The ship, with deadweight of  300,294 tons, was carrying US$ 140 million in crude oil. In view thereof, the attack may be considered the largest and most audacious act of piracy in maritime history. Capt. Manthos Koutsothanasis, the crew manager of Maran Tankers Management Inc., reported to the POLO that the crew are in good shape.

• The Panamanian-flagged bulk cargo Navios Apollon was seized on December 28 about 800 miles off the Somali coast, north of the Seychelles. The vessel was sailing from the Florida to India with a cargo of fertilizer.

The recent hijacking cases emphasizes the worsening situation that the Somali pirates reach has grown.

The six captured ships, including the three owned by Greeks (in bold text), with Filipinos on board, are as follows:

Another Marshall Island-flagged bulk carrier, Delvina, hijacked on 5 November with a crew of 21, including 14 Filipinos, was released recently (on December 16) with all the crew unharmed.

The Somalia east coast is now teeming with captured vessels and crew. There are reportedly seven other vessels off the coast of Somalia with a combined crew of 161 (no Filipinos) bringing the total crew still kidnapped by the  pirates  to 308, of whom 75 or one-fourth, are Filipinos.

In 2009, Somali pirates seized 305 Filipinos on board 22 vessels. In comparison, a total of 117 Filipino seamen on board 11 ships were seized in the Gulf of Aden by the Somali pirates in 2008.

The Philippine manning agents of Filitsa, Maran Centaurus, and Navios Apollon are: Bright Maritime Corporation, Friendly Maritime Services, Inc., and Inter-Orient Maritime Enterprises, Inc., respectively.

January 11, 2010 by DFA-PISU

11 January 2010 – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) held a soft opening of its new state-of-the-art building that will serve as the home of its consular services.

Present during the opening were DFA Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Chairperson Patricia A. Sto. Tomas, DBP President Reynaldo David, DFA Undersecretary for Administration Franklin M. Ebdalin, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Renato A. Villapando and other officials and guests.

“We started making advancements in world-class, modern, innovative and internationally-compliant consular services through the launch of the ePassport. With the move of the DFA’s Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA) to this new building, we are approaching the end of that roadmap,” Secretary Romulo said.

“In this intelligent building, instead of sweltering heat, our consular clients will be greeted with cool air at the moment they enter our doors. Instead of monobloc chairs, they will wait their turn sitting on ergonomically-designed stainless steel benches. Instead of long queues, they can shorten their wait by accessing our online appointment system. Instead of going from building to building, they only need to move from ground to second floor,” he added.

He said that DFA-OCA personnel will also enjoy the convenience of modern work stations, furniture and equipment.

The new facility is located at the corner of Bradco and Macapagal Avenues in Aseana Business Park, Paranaque City, a few minutes away from the Mall of Asia.

The acquisition of the PhP530-million, 7,000-square meter, four-storey building was realized with the assistance of the DBP.

For her part, DBP Chairperson Sto. Tomas offered the development bank’s continuing assistance in DFA’s future property acquisitions.

The facility will be opened to the public once it is formally inaugurated in the next few weeks.

The new facility will be the home of the ePassport, the electronic authentication system, the electronic visa system, and digitalized consular records system.

An intelligent building, the facility is equipped with fiber-optic lines, CCTV cameras and other high-tech information and communications infrastructure. Made of tempered glass and steel, the modern OCA office departs from the traditional concrete buildings.

The OCA building is poised to set the new standard among government front-line offices, providing the public with fast, efficient, and comfortable service.

Secretary Romulo initiated the relocation of OCA to the modern building to make the DFA’s services at par with those of advanced countries and to put the Philippines on high gear towards progress.

It is part of the ongoing modernization program undertaken by Secretary Romulo to further improve its frontline services which include harnessing new technologies in passport and visa issuances and streamlined procedures in the authentication of documents.

An earlier major accomplishment in the DFA’s modernization thrust was the launch of the Philippine ePassport on August 11, 2009, with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as guest of honor. With the issuance of the ePassport, the Philippines is now among the first countries in the world to implement the latest in passport technology.

To ensure quick, comfortable service, passport applicants are advised to check the passport requirements and secure an online appointment at www.dfa.gov.ph (consular tab), or to call the consular help-line number (02-556-0000) or DFA telephone number (02-834-4000). Applications may also be filed with the DFA’s 19 Regional Consular and satellite offices. END