22 October 2013 - The Philippine Embassy in Moscow, together with Filipino community leaders, welcomed a delegation of young Filipino leaders in an informal reception held on October 19 at the residence of Philippine Ambassador to Russia Alejandro B. Mosquera.

The delegation consisted of Representative James Mark Terry Ridon; Representative Alfredo Vargas; Liloan City Mayor Vincent Franco Frasco; Ms. Raquel Perez, Legislative Staff Officer of Senator Legarda; and Ms. Lilet Tolentino of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of European Affairs.

Said officials are in Moscow from October 19 to 26 for a familiarization trip for young leaders and policy makers organized by Rossotrudnichestvo (Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation of the Russian Federation).

Representatives Ridon and Vargas and the rest of the Philippine delegation expressed appreciation to the Philippine Embassy for the warm welcome and the opportunity to touch base with the Filipino community in Moscow.

About 30 Filipino community officials, representing the Filipino Association in Russia (FAR), Bayanihan ng Bayan ni Juan, BIBAK (Benguet, Ifugao, Bontoc, Apayao, and Kalinga), and Baguio Support Group, attended the event and exchanged views with the visiting officials on common issues faced by overseas Filipino workers in Russia.

Based on Embassy records, there are approximately 3,000 Filipinos living and working in Russia - the overwhelming majority of them (90 percent) are household service workers (HSWs). This figure represents those who have registered with the Embassy in the last five years.

Eighty-seven percent (87%) of Filipinos in Russia are women.  END