06 December 2013 - In solidarity with the Filipino nation, the Philippine Embassy in Ankara opened a condolence book from November 14 to 15 for Turkish Government officials, Diplomatic Missions and International Organizations based in Ankara and offered a special Holy Mass on November 16 for the more than 5,000 dead and 12 million displaced Filipinos gravely affected in the wake of the destruction caused by super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
Super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), unofficially the strongest recorded tropical cyclone to make landfall, with wind speeds of up to 315 km/h (195 mph), battered the central Philippines (Visayas region) on November 08 with the city of Tacloban and Leyte provinces being the worst-hit areas. Thousands are feared to have died as a result of the devastation brought by the most powerful typhoon recorded in meteorological history. Super typhoon Yolanda left massive destruction in its wake, destroying towns and cities in its path, and toppling houses, bridges, airports and infrastructure as it tore through Leyte province.
Turkish President Abdullah Gϋl and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan conveyed their sincerest condolences on behalf of the Turkish people on the great tragedy caused by typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) to the Filipino people and the Philippine Government on November 11. Mr. Ozcan Sahin, Chief Foreign Policy Adviser of Office of Turkish President conveyed President Gul’s message of sympathy in the condolence book.
Likewise Turkish Grand Assembly Speaker Cemil Cicek expressed his sympathy and was represented by Mr. Erdeniz Sen, Foreign Policy Adviser to the Speaker of the of the Grand National Assembly, who wrote his condolence message. Ambassador-designate H.E. Ms. Esra Cankuror, incoming Turkish Ambassador to the Philippines expressed her deepest sorrow and sympathy with the Filipino people in writing and stated that at times like these, Turkey stands in solidarity with the Philippine government and the Filipino people. Other Turkish high-ranking government officials, Heads of Missions and Deputy Chiefs of Missions of Diplomatic Missions and ASEAN Missions in Ankara (ASEAN Ankara Committee) and International Organizations visited the Chancery and expressed their profound deep sympathies and condolences to the Filipino people.
Charge d’ Affaires, a.i. (CDA) Leilani S. Feliciano and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Ankara expressed gratitude for the inspiring messages and comforting words of support received from fellow diplomats in Ankara and from international organizations and Turkish Government officials. The Philippine Embassy in Ankara officers and staff particularly expressed gratitude to the representatives of the Office of the President, Office of the Prime Ministry and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Turkey’s immediate sending of humanitarian assistance to the Philippines on November 11.
Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay departed late November 10 from Ankara to the Philippines with a cargo plane containing 65 tons of relief supplies such as tents, blankets, kitchen tools and other necessary equipment. The Prime Ministry’s Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) and Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) promised they would continue to Supply aid after needs assessment was conducted. President of AFAD and the Turkish Red Crescent, Fuat Oktay and Ahmet Lutfi Akar accompanied the Deputy Prime Minister. DFA Office of European Affairs Executive Director Marichu Mauro led the DFA delegation along with Turkish Ambassador to the Philippines Hatice Pinar Isik in welcoming Deputy PM Atalay and Turkish delegation when a Boeing 747 cargo plane and another Turkish Airlines plane carrying DPM Atalay and his delegation arrived in Manila on November 11.
Turkish companies, academe and media such as the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges in Turkey (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu, Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB), Honorary Consul General to Istanbul Mr. Ersin Karaoglan, Dr. Kadir Topbas, Mayor of Istanbul, Ankara Chamber of Commerce, among others, also sent to the Philippine Embassy in Ankara written messages of sympathy and condolences to the Filipinos people and the Philippine Government.
On the evening of November 16, the Philippine Embassy offered a special Holy Mass which was dedicated to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). The Mass was officiated by Fr. Jean Marc Belhan, parish priest of Meryem Ana Catholic Church and Azize Therese Catholic Church in Ulus. Around 60 Filipinos from the Ankara Filipino Community joined the Philippine Embassy officers and staff during the Mass where additional cash donations were received for the benefit of the victims of the super typhoon.
Fr. Belhan offered prayers and words of spiritual consolation to the dead and Filipino victims of supertyphoon Haiyan. The entire congregation prayed that God grant the Filipino people and the Philippine Government fortitude and stronger faith and trust in the Lord to help endure and overcome the suffering and tremendous loss.
CDA Feliciano conveyed her gratitude and appreciation to Fr. Belhan and to the Ankara Filipino community for their participation. She also conducted a brief meeting with the Filipino community after the Mass and gave specific instructions on the procedures for the sending of cash donations to certain bank accounts provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs. END