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PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN MILAN STARTS OVERSEAS VOTING REGISTRATION

07 May 2014- The Philippine Consulate General in Milan commenced on May 6 the registration of overseas voters for the 2016 national elections.

The first day of registration went smoothly.  Consul General Marichu Mauro encouraged Filipinos who were availing of consular services to register and explained to them that by doing so, they are empowered to exercise their political right to vote. Those who recently reacquired their Filipino citizenship were likewise invited. Registrants must present their Philippine passport after filling out the registration form downloadable from the Commission on Elections website or available at the Consulate’s information desk. 

The Consulate intends to surpass the number of new registrants in previous registration periods by reaching out to more Filipinos through the use of social media with the upcoming launch of its official Facebook page.  Traditional means of information dissemination through Filipino newspapers, Filipino community activities and the Consulate website will also be maximized.

Registration are processed at the Consulate during office hours and during mobile services.  There are consular services scheduled for the rest of the year to Vicenza, Torino, Bologna, Modena, Padova, Treviso and Rimini.  The aim is to reach out to as many Filipinos as possible and encourage them to register for the 2016 Philippine national elections.

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PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN MILAN CELEBRATES LABOR DAY WITH FILIPINO LEADERS’ FORUM

07 May 2014- In celebration of International Labor Day on May 1, the Philippine Consulate General invited leaders from the different Filipino associations in Milan and Northern Italy to a Leaders’ Forum conducted by Consul General Marichu Mauro. The Consul General opened the meeting by reading the message of President Benigno S. Aquino III on the observance of Labor Day, followed by the greetings of Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz delivered by Welfare Officer Cynthia Lamban.

Consul General Mauro discussed the new consular schedule to be implemented starting May 19, 2014 aimed to achieve greater efficiency in the delivery of consular services to the Filipino community. Both the Consulate and the community have noted an increase in the availment of consular services due to various reasons (e.g. expiring passports, additional documents required by Italian authorities, etc). The Consulate General assured the Filipinos in Northern Italy that it continues to address these challenges without sacrificing the delivery of services to the community.

Preparations for the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day in June was also discussed. An open forum followed to give the groups an opportunity to raise their suggestions and comments. As agreed and practiced in previous years, the traditional celebration of the Independence Day Mass and Kalayaan Fiesta will take place on June 8 (details to be announced later). The community was invited to dinner after the meeting

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OFFICERS OF FILIPINO COMMUNITY FEDERATION IN EMILIA ROMAGNA ITALY TAKE OATH BEFORE PHILIPPINE CONSUL GENERAL

Milan-07 May 2014- For the first time since the establishment of the Philippine Consulate General in Milan, Italy, consulate officials last May 4 visited the Italian coastal city of Rimini in the region of Emilia Romagna.

Emilia Romagna is one of the biggest regions in Italy and host to thousands of Filipinos.

On behalf of Philippine Ambassador to Italy Virgilio Reyes, Consul General Marichu Mauro officiated the oath-talking ceremony of the new officers of the Federation of Filipino Communities in Emilia Romagna and Marche regions. The officers were from Rimini, Modena, Parma, Ravenna, Forli, Cesena Ferrara, and Piacenza.

Consul General Mauro pledged to bring the Consulate General’s services closer to the community by conducting mobile consular services and holding regular consultation meetings with the Filipino leaders to exchange views on our kababayans’ concerns.